Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a considerable problem for patients recovering after surgery. Feeling nauseated after surgery is a side effect that impacts many patients and can dramatically slow the return to normal activities like eating and drinking. Vomiting is more serious, as it can be very painful after surgery and can put large amounts of stress on some surgical incisions; lead to prolonged or unexpected hospital stay or even readmission; and interfere with early postoperative recovery.¹

Unfortunately, getting sick after anesthesia is extremely common. In fact, the estimated incidence of PONV is as high as 30% for low-risk patients and 80% for high-risk patients,² and PONV has been ranked as the most undesirable of all surgical complications in some patient surveys.³ Learn more about how we are working to improve PONV medication options for patients.

View References

1. Kranke P, et al. Possibilities and limitations in the pharmacological management of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2011;28(11):758-765.
2. Smith HS, et al. Postoperative nausea and vomiting. Ann Palliat Med. 2012;1(2):94-102. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2224-5820.2012.07.05
3. Gan TJ, et al. Consensus guidelines for the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting [published correction appears in Anesth Analg. 2014;118(3):689] [published correction appears in Anesth Analg. 2015;120(2):494]. Anesth Analg. 2014;118(1):85-113. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000000002