Audit of postoperative nausea and vomiting in paediatric day case surgery

Objective: To assess the incidence of PONV, delay in discharge or unplanned admissions in paediatric surgical cases done at the Surgical Day Care Unit at Aga Khan University between January and July 2009. Methods: All paediatric ASA 1-2 cases, from 6 months to 18 years of age undergoing day case surgeries at the Surgical day care unit were included in this retrospective audit. Data was collected on a designed form filled with information from preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative recovery forms. Any relevant data was also noted from nurses notes in recovery room and step down unit. Episodes of vomiting, delay in discharge, or unplanned admission due to PONV were documented. Data was analyzed on SPSS 14. Results: Out of 163 patients only one patient (0.6%) had an episode of vomiting in the recovery room and two patients (1.2%) had vomiting in the step down unit. There was no delay in discharge or unplanned admission due to PONV in paediatric day cases during the period of our audit. Conclusion: The incidence of postoperative vomiting in paediatric day cases at our day care unit does not justify polymodal prophylaxis as a protocol for PONV.