Incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting and it’s predictors among adult elective surgical patients at Jimma Medical Center, South West Ethiopia

Abstract Background Post-operative nausea and vomiting is the most frequent side effect of anesthesia. It affects 20 - 30% of all post-operative and 70%-80% high risk patients. Consequently, it is one of the most frequently observed adverse events associated with the provision of anesthesia. Thus this study is aimed to assess the incidence and associated factors of post-operative nausea and vomiting. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted using a consecutive sampling method. Regular supervision and follow up were made. Data was entered in to Epi info version 7 software and transported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Odd ratio and 95% confidence interval was computed. The findings of the study were reported using tables, figures and narration. Variables that were found to be candidate (p value < 0.25) on binary logistic regression entered into a multiple logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors of post-operative nausea and vomiting. Results The results of this study indicated that the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was 27.4% . Output of multiple logistic regression revealed that female sex (AOR = 4.065 (2.090 - 7.906), history of motion sickness (AOR = 2.836 (1.582 - 5.083), Gynecologic type of surgery (AOR = 3.782 (1.156 - 12.373), long duration of anaesthesia (> 60 min) (AOR = 2.974 (1.491 - 5.933) and administration of post-operative opioids (AOR = 2.333 (1.221 - 4.457) were considered as independent predictors of postoperative nausea and vomiting at P value < 0.05. Conclusion The present finding has shown that the overall incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting is high 27.4% therefore provision of anti-emetic prophylaxis is reccomended.