INTRODUCTION: There are many benefits associated with the laparoscopic surgery including faster recovery, shorter hospital stays and prompt return to normal activities. Although laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive in nature but high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains a major cause of morbidity. To prevent PONV, multimodal techniques are helpful, but not any one technique is idea to deal with this problem. This study was carried out to compare the efficacy of intraoperative high oxygen concentration with metoclopramide in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to observe the effectiveness of high oxygen concentration as compared to metoclopramide in prevention of postoperative nausea and/ or vomiting in adult females undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS AND MATERIAL: This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted in the operating rooms of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. A total of 84 ASA I and II adult female patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in this study. They were randomly divided into two equal groups to receive either FiO2 intraoperatively or Metoclopramide. Postoperatively patients were observed for 24 hours for any episode of nausea, vomiting and antiemetic administration. RESULTS: There was a significant effect on incidence of PONV in adult female patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and received high intraoperative oxygen concentration. During the 24 hr period, out of 84 patients, 12 patients (28.6%) in HO group experience PONV and required rescue antiemetic medication and 29 patients (69%) in Metoclopramide group experience PONV and so the rescue antiemetic medication. We can say high intraoperative oxygen concentration was effective in reduction of PONV as compared to metoclopramide. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that high intraoperative FiO2 was effective in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adult female patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery when compared to metoclopramide.
