title: Anaesthesia with sevoflurane in children: nitrous oxide does not increase postoperative vomiting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nitrous oxide (N2O) has been associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), but some studies show conflicting data. The aim of this study was to assess whether the combination of N2O/sevoflurane, in paediatric general anaesthesia, increases the incidence of vomiting in the 24 h following surgery compared with sevoflurane alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fourteen children, aged 1-10 years, who underwent testicle and inguinal hernia surgery, were randomized to receive one of the following two anaesthetic regimens: sevoflurane with 70% N2O (group A) or sevoflurane alone (group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were observed in the incidence of postoperative vomiting between the two groups. The overall incidence of postoperative vomiting was 14.9%; 14.3% in group A and 15.5% in group B (P=0.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nitrous oxide used in combination with sevoflurane is not associated with an increase in the incidence of emesis in children who undergo testicle and inguinal hernia procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Azienda Ospedaliera di Parma, Parma, Italy. lbortone@ao.pr.it
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bortone
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Picetti
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mergoni
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D013737:Testis / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D009609:Nitrous Oxide