Assessment of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting and Its Associated Factors in Patients Receiving General Anesthesia: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remain among the most common and distressing complications following general anesthesia, impairing recovery and prolonging hospital stay. Despite established risk models, population-specific data are limited in many clinical settings, restricting the development of tailored prevention strategies. Objective: To determine the prevalence of PONV and identify associated patient-related and perioperative risk factors among adults undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 consecutively enrolled surgical patients receiving general anesthesia. Standardized instruments were used to collect preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data, and PONV was assessed within 24 hours of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors after adjusting for confounders. Results: The prevalence of PONV was 32.5% (n = 104). Female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.01), history of motion sickness or prior PONV (aOR 2.82), volatile anesthetic use (aOR 2.47), intraoperative opioid administration (aOR 2.69), and surgery duration greater than 90 minutes (aOR 1.71) independently increased the risk, while antiemetic prophylaxis significantly reduced it (aOR 0.53). Conclusion: PONV remains a significant postoperative concern, driven by both intrinsic susceptibility and modifiable perioperative factors. Targeted prophylaxis, opioid-sparing strategies, and evidence-based anesthetic practices are essential to reduce its burden and improve postoperative outcomes.