Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Gynecological and Obstetrical Patients in Nigeria
Author Information
Author(s): Okafor Ugochukwu, Amucheazi Adaobi, Ewah Richard, Obioma Okezie
Primary Institution: University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital
Hypothesis
Are Black populations in Africa less prone to postoperative nausea and vomiting compared to Caucasian and Oriental populations?
Conclusion
The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in this surgical population is lower than that reported in most studies, possibly due to ethnic variation.
Supporting Evidence
- 12 out of 300 patients experienced vomiting within 48 hours of anesthesia, indicating a 4% incidence.
- 8% of the gynecological patients and 1.6% of the obstetric patients reported PONV.
- The study suggests that ethnic/racial variations may influence the incidence of PONV.
Takeaway
This study found that fewer patients felt sick after surgery than expected, which might be because of their ethnicity.
Methodology
A retrospective observational survey was conducted reviewing the folders of 300 patients for PONV incidence within 48 hours of anesthesia.
Potential Biases
Possible sampling bias due to the retrospective design.
Limitations
The study's retrospective nature may have led to unreliable documentation of nausea and vomiting.
Participant Demographics
Patients included obstetrical and gynecological populations from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital.
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