Effect of multimodal intervention on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery, and achieving good results is difficult with a single antiemetic method. This study investigated whether multimodal intervention can reduce PONV in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: A total of 153 patients who underwent gynecological laparoscopic surgery were randomized into the control group and multimodal group. Patients in the multimodal group received dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg intravenously 15 minutes before induction of anesthesia. A bilateral transversus abdominis plane block was performed with 0.375% ropivacaine 30 mL after induction of anesthesia. Scores of postoperative nausea and vomiting, the visual analog scale, and the Bruggemann comfort scale (BCS) were assessed 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Nausea and vomiting scores were significantly lower at 2, 6, and 24 hours in the multimodal group compared with the control group. BCS scores were significantly higher at 0 to 24 hours in the multimodal group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Multimodal intervention improves PONV and increases patients’ comfort. The multimodal approach can also enhance recovery after gynecological laparoscopic surgery.