CAN CONTINUOUS INFUSION OF SUB-HYPNOTIC DOSE OF PROPOFOL DURING SEVOFLURANE ANESTHESIA REDUCE POST OPERATIVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING?

S497 BACKGROUND: Propofol anesthesia is assumed to reduce the incidence of post operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) because of its anti-emetic effect. [1] The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to investigate the influence of continuous infusion of sub-hypnotic dose of propofol during sevoflurane anesthesia on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). METHODS: Informed thirty-five ASA physical status I or II patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery were randomly divided to one of two groups. In both groups patients received 2mg/kg propofol for induction of anesthesia. In group 1, patients were maintained with 1-3% of sevoflurane and 33% O2 in N2O. In group 2, patients were maintained with 1-3% of sevoflurane, 0.1mg/kg/hr of propofol and 33% O2 in N2O. The incidence of PONV were noted in the operating room, and in the ward for 24h after recovery from anesthesia. Statistics were made using Chi-square test with P<0.05 as significant. RESULTS: Infused propofol doses were 102.7 +/- 9.3mg and 108.8 +/- 11.8mg, in group 1 and 2, respectively. In group 1 (n = 17), 11 patients (65%) had episodes of nausea after the operation, and 7 patients (41%) vomited. In group 2 (n = 17), 4 patients (24%) had episodes of nausea. There were no patients vomited in group 2. The episodes of nausea and vomiting were significantly less frequent in group 2 (Nausea: P=0.0156, Vomiting: P=0.0072 Fischer's exact test). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative infusion of sub-hypnotic dose of propofol may reduce the incidence of PONV in patients after inhalation anesthesia.