Sevoflurane-Remifentanil Anaesthesia. The Risk of Post Operative Nausea

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Are Similar When Propofol or Sevoflurane Are Used as Adjuvant to Remifentanil During Anaesthesia for Gynaecological Surgery

The purpose of this study is to determine whether sevoflurane-remifentanil anaesthesia is similar to propofol-remifentanil anaesthesia concerning post- operative nausea and vomiting.

Propofol and sevoflurane anaesthesia are used world wide at the anaesthetists discretion.

Propofol is superior to inhalational anaesthetics as anaesthesia for patients at risk of post operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) as PONV is diminished. However, when remifentanil is used as adjuvant to sevoflurane, the total dose of the latter is reduced.

Therefore, we wanted to investigate if sevoflurane-remifentanil anaesthesia is similar to propofol-remifentanil anaesthesia with emphasis on nausea, vomiting and total PONV during 24 hours.

In the post anaesthesia care unit (PACU) and in the surgical ward nausea was scored on a visual analogue score. Vomiting was registered.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Females younger than 50 years
• ASA I-II
• Scheduled to gynaecological laparotomies or laparoscopies

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medication known to act anti-emetic
• ASA status greater than II
• Malignant hyperthermia
• Allergy to the drugs used.