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Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Children

  • Therapy In Practice
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Abstract

In spite of improvements in anesthesia techniques, the ‘big little problem’ of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) still exists. PONV can prolong recovery room stay and hospitalization, and is one of the most common causes of hospital readmission after day surgery.

While there is little evidence to support prophylactic administration of antiemetics in patients at low risk of PONV, the higher risk population could benefit from the use of adequate antiemetic drugs. A wide variety of pharmacological approaches have been reported to be effective, as well as some nonpharmacological approaches. Antiemetic drugs available to treat or prevent PONV include phenothiazines, antihistamines, anticholinergics, benzamides, butyrophenones and 5-HT3 antagonists. Since available drugs still present undesired adverse effects and are not completely able to control PONV, clinical investigations are ongoing for more effective and better tolerated agents; indeed, the ideal antiemetic drug might be cost-effective for routine use.

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Acknowledgments

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this manuscript. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Management, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata, Cancer Hospital, Rionero in Vulture, Italy

    Pasquale De Negri

  2. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Piazza polonia 9b, 10126, Turin, Italy

    Giorgio Ivani

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  1. Pasquale De Negri
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  2. Giorgio Ivani
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Correspondence to Giorgio Ivani.

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De Negri, P., Ivani, G. Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Children. Pediatr-Drugs 4, 717–728 (2002). https://doi.org/10.2165/00128072-200204110-00003

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