Nausea sevoflurane

A higher incidence of nausea and vomiting has been reported after sevoflurane anaesthesia than when a target-controlled propofol infusion is used. 

The chemical structures of the currently available inhaled anesthetics are shown in Figure 25-2. The most commonly used inhaled anesthetics are isoflurane, desflurane, and sevoflurane. These compounds are volatile liquids that are aerosolized in specialized vaporizer delivery systems. Nitrous oxide, a gas at ambient temperature and pressure, continues to be an important adjuvant to the volatile agents. However, concerns about environmental pollution and its ability to increase the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) have resulted in a significant decrease in its use. 

About 20% of halothane is metabolised and it induces hepatic enzymes, including those of anaesthetists and operating theatre staff. Hepatic damage occurs in a small proportion of exposed patients. Typically fever develops 2 or 3 days after anaesthesia accompanied by anorexia, nausea and vomiting. In more severe cases this is followed by transient jaundice or, very rarely, fatal hepatic necrosis. Severe hepatitis is a complication of repeatedly administered halothane anaesthesia and has an incidence of 1 50000. It follows immime sensitisation to an oxidative metabolite of halothane in susceptible individuals. This serious complication, along with the other disadvantages of halothane and the popularity of sevoflurane for inhalational induction, has almost eliminated its use in the developed world. It remains in common use other parts of the world because it is comparatively inexpensive. 

Isoflurane and sevoflurane have been compared in a randomized study in 180 patients undergoing knee arthroscopy (18). In those given sevoflurane there were significantly more respiratory and cardiovascular complications and increased nausea and vomiting. 

In a comparison of sevoflurane and isoflurane anesthesia in 2008 patients there was a 3-4 minute reduction in time to recovery end-points with sevoflurane (19). These differences became larger in anesthetics lasting over 3 hours and were trivial in cases less than 1 hour. Patients aged over 65 years had a 5-minute increase in recovery times after receiving isoflurane. There was no significant difference in the incidence of nausea or vomiting between isoflurane, sevoflurane, and propofol. 

Oh AY, Kim JH, Hwang JW, Do SH, Jeon YT. Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after paediatric strabismus surgery with sevoflurane or remifentanil-sevoflurane. Br J Anaesth 2010 104(6) 756-60. 

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