BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Supplemental oxygen can reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients under general anesthesia. The objective of the present study was to determine the efficacy of supplemental oxygen to reduce the incidence of perioperative nausea and vomiting in elective cesareans under subarachnoid block. METHODS: After induction of standardized subarachnoid block, 94 parturients undergoing surgical delivery were randomly divided to receive 4 L.min-1 of oxygen (Group O) or medical air (Group S) under nasal cannula throughout the procedure. Patients were questioned on the development of nausea and vomiting during the surgery and in the first six and 24 hours after the procedure. RESULTS: Demographic and perioperative parameters, as well as the data on the newborn, were comparable in both groups. In Group O, the incidence of nausea during the surgery, in the first 6 hours afterwards, and between 6 and 24 hours was 35%, 30%, and 19%, respectively, while in Group S, it was 35%, 30%, and 19%, respectively. In Group O, the incidence of vomiting was 9%, 11% and 6% in the corresponding periods, and in Group S, 21%, 7% and 7%, respectively. Those differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of supplemental oxygen from anesthetic induction until the end of the surgery did not reduce the incidence of intra- and postoperative nausea or vomiting in women undergoing cesarean section under subarachnoid block.
ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUES, Regional; COMPLICATIONS; SURGERY, Obstetric
