POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING - REVIEW AND CLINICAL APPROACHES

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PNV) is a common disorder at the fo refront of ambulatory care issues. New antiemetic drugs and improved a nesthetic techniques have decreased the incidence of anesthesia-induce d PNV. Patient characteristics and surgical factors are now largely re sponsible for postoperative emesis. Clinicians need to understand thes e factors to deal effectively with PNV as the use of ambulatory surger y increases. Physicians should consider both prophylactic drug interve ntion and direct treatment.