Does infusion of colloid influence the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after elective surgery in women?

Background: The impact of the type of fluid on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is not well defined. In this study we investigated the effects of colloids or crystalloids on PONV when given in addition to a background minimal crystalloid infusion in a female population of surgical patients.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind study included 115 women undergoing gynecological or breast surgery who were randomly allocated to receive hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 or normal saline in addition to a fixed background infusion of 5% dextrose in 0.45% saline at a flow rate of 0.5 mL x kg(-1) x h(-1). A bolus of 500 mL of the study fluid (HES or normal saline) was infused before the induction of anesthesia, followed by a continuous infusion of 1 mL x kg(-1) x h(-1) adjustable according to hemodynamic needs. The primary outcome variable was the incidence of PONV during the 24 h postoperative period. Secondary end points were the need for antiemetic rescue therapy, incidence of hypotensive episodes, pain scores, and need for additional analgesia.

Results: Nausea occurred in 11 of 56 patients who received HES and in 11 of 58 patients who received saline (P > 0.05). There were no differences between groups in the incidence of vomiting. There were no differences between the groups regarding antiemetic rescue therapy, hypotensive episodes, pain scores, or need for opioids.

Conclusions: In surgical procedures with minimal blood loss and minimal fluid shifts, the type of fluid replacement administered (colloid vs 0.9% normal saline) has minimal effect on the incidence of PONV.