Effectiveness of Gastric Decompression in Reducing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Following Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study investigated the incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery, with a focus on the role of gastric decompression (GD) in mitigating these symptoms. A cohort of over two hundred patients who had undergone ENT operations was divided into two groups: Group I, where GD was administered before extubation, and Group II, where GD was not utilized post-surgery. The occurrence and severity of PONV were assessed at various time intervals postoperatively. Results revealed a significantly higher incidence of PONV in Group II compared to Group I at the second, fourth, eighth, and twelfth postoperative hours, with PONV also being more severe in Group II. Additionally, patients in Group I with PONV ratios exceeding 10 were significantly more likely to experience PONV in the second hour compared to those with aspirated gastric contents of less than ten milliliters. However, there were no statistically significant differences in PONV occurrence or severity between the two groups at subsequent time points. These findings underscore the efficacy of gastric decompression in reducing PONV following ENT surgery.