Nausea, pain, and pruritus have a high degree of prevalence and severity after discharge following ambulatory surgery, for which they may be inadequately treated.
In a multicenter study of over 2,000 U.S. adults, the overall incidence of post-discharge nausea and vomiting (PDNV) was 37.1% (Anesthesiology 2012;117:475-86). Table 1 lists the incidence of nausea and vomiting in various postoperative periods (Anesthesiology 2012;117:475-86). Of note, the incidence of PDNV is higher than nausea and vomiting in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), particularly for severe nausea and vomiting (Anesthesiology 2012;117:475-86). Children under 3 years of age rarely suffer from nausea and vomiting.
The five independent risk factors for PDNV are listed in Table 2 (Anesthesiology 2012;117:475-86). In the presence of zero to five of these risk factors, the incidence of PDNV was 10%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 60%, or 80%, respectively (Anesthesiology 2012;117:475-86). Nausea...
