A prospective randomized blinded study of the effect of intravenous fluid therapy on postoperative nausea and vomiting in children undergoing strabismus surgery.
BACKGROUND
Nausea and vomiting is a common postoperative complication that often necessitates the use of antiemetic agents.


METHODS
In a prospective, randomized, double blind trial, the effect of perioperative fluid administration on postoperative adverse outcomes following anesthesia was studied. One hundred children undergoing strabismus repair were randomly assigned to receive 10 ml x kg(-1) x h(-1) (control group) or 30 ml x kg(-1) x h(-1) (superhydration group) of lactated Ringer's solution during the operation. During the first 24 h postoperatively, nausea and vomiting, thirst, pain, and fever were evaluated.


RESULTS
Groups were similar with respect to demographic data, surgical procedures and baseline hemodynamic variables. In the first 24 h postoperatively, nausea and vomiting occurred in 27 patients (54%) of the control group and 11 (22%) of patients in the superhydration group (P = 0.001). Comparison of the superhydration group with the control group also showed a statistically significant benefit of superhydration on postoperative thirst (P = 0.0002) and fever (P = 0.02). The differences in nausea and vomiting, thirst, and fever remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, weight, and duration of surgery. There was no significant difference between the two groups in postoperative pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous superhydration administration is an inexpensive and safe therapy for reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting and discomfort.
Goodarzi
Mashallah
M
Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. mgoodarzi@chla.usc.edu
Matar
Marla M
MM
Shafa
Mark
M
Townsend
Janice E
JE
Gonzalez
Isaac
I
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077325:Ringer's Lactate; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery
D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D000077325:Ringer's Lactate