Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Thyroid Center, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital
Received: September 23, 2011; Accepted: October 20, 2011.
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ABSTRACT
Purpose Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common problem in patients undergoing
thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy. PONV is influenced by various factors that involve the characteristics of the
patients, surgery, and anesthesia. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of PONV in patients undergoing
thyroid and parathyroid surgery and to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics.
Materials and Methods Between March 1st and May 20th 2011, 22 patients with PONV were enrolled from 192
patients who underwent elective thyroid or parathyroid surgery at Seoul National University Hospital.
Clinicopathologic characteristics such as age, sex, BMI, pathology, operation/anesthesia time and methods were
retrospectively reviewed.
Results PONV occurred in 22 patients (11.4%) of 192 patients. Age, operation/anesthesia time, operation method
and postoperative hospital stay were associated with PONV in univariate analysis. However, there were no
statistically significant factors in multivariate analysis.
Conclusion Patients undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery have a relatively low risk of developing PONV.
However, we should take interest to high risk patients considering that PONV is related to longer hospital stay.