title: Postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting among pre- and postmenopausal women undergoing cystocele and rectocele repair surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and postoperative pain are among the most common side-effects of surgery. Many factors, such as a change in the level of sex hormones, are reported to affect these complications. This study aimed to evaluate the probable effects of the menopause on PONV and postoperative pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study, in which a total number of 144 female patients undergoing cystocele or rectocele repair surgery under standardized spinal anesthesia were included. Patients were divided into two equally sized sample groups of pre- and postmenopausal women (n = 72). The occurrence of PONV, the severity of pain as assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, and the quantity of morphine and metoclopramide required were recorded at 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean VAS pain score and the mean quantity of morphine required was higher among premenopausal women (P = 0.006). Moreover, these patients required more morphine for their pain management during the first 24 h after surgery compared to postmenopausal women (P < 0.0001). No difference was observed between the two groups regarding the incidence of PONV (P = 0.09 and P = 1.00 for nausea and vomiting, respectively) and the mean amount of metoclopramide required (P = 0.38).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Premenopausal women are more likely to suffer from postoperative pain after cystocele and rectocele repair surgery. Further studies regarding the measurement of hormonal changes among surgical patients in both pre- and postmenopausal women are recommended to evaluate the effects on PONV and postoperative pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Lorestan University of Medical Science, Khoramabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Sepideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vahabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Lorestan University of Medical Science, Khoramabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abaszadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Lorestan University of Medical Science, Khoramabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yari
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Lorestan University of Medical Science, Khoramabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Nazanin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yousefi
keywords: Menopause; Postoperative nausea and vomiting; Postoperative pain