The Effect of Paracetamol on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Maxillofacial Surgery Under General Anesthesia

Year 2022, Volume: 23 Issue: 4, 462 - 468, 30.12.2022

Özlem Kocatürk

Abstract

Objective: The management of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), a frequent issue, has included various medications. Maxillofacial surgeries are in the high-risk surgical group for PONV. This study evaluated the efficacy of paracetamol on PONV in adults undergoing maxillofacial surgery.
Materials and Methods: All patient files who underwent elective-maxillofacialsurgery under standard general anesthesia procedures between January 2016 and September 2021 were reviewed. The patients who received paracetamol infusion (i.v. paracetamol 1.5 mL/kg) as an additional analgesics in the recovery room were defined as the paracetamol group; patients who did not use additional analgesics were defined as the control group. The postoperative 0-4 and 4-24 h were defined as the early and late postoperative period, respectively. All episodes of PONV occurring within 24 h after general anesthesia were recorded in the patient files. Antiemetic drug use, postoperative pain and analgesic needs in the early and late postoperative periods were recorded in the first 24 h after surgery.
Results: The incidence of PONV during 0-4 h postoperatively was significantly higher in the control group compared with the paracetamol group (p=0.034 for nausea; p=0.030 for vomiting). The need for rescue antiemetic drug during 0-4 h postoperatively was significantly higher in the control group compared with the paracetamol group (p=0.013). There were no differences among the groups in terms of pain levels during the 24 h postoperatively.
Conclusion: Early period after maxillofacial surgery, the incidence of PONV is decreased by the use of intravenously paracetamol. Paracetamol may help prevent PONV.

Keywords

Postoperative nausea and vomiting, paracetamol, maxillofacial surgery, antiemetics

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