Being older as a risk factor for vomiting in those undergoing spinal anesthesia

• Published in: Journal of clinical gerontology & geriatrics Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 68 - 72
• Main Authors: Hung, Lien-Wei, Chou, Ming-Yueh, Liang, Chih-Kuang, Liu, Kang, Chou, Yu-Mei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Nausea; Risk factor; Spinal anesthesia; Vomiting; Nausea; Vomiting; Risk factor; Spinal anesthesia
• ISSN: 2210-8335; 2210-8343
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcgg.2012.04.006

To explore the effect of older age (≥ 65 years) as a risk factor for nausea and vomiting in the context of spinal anesthesia by assessing patient-, surgery- and anesthesia-related variables. This is an observation study using a survey instrument in a tertiary general hospital. Patients scheduled to undergo surgery with spinal anesthesia were surveyed by questionnaire and record review to prospectively and consecutively study all patients consenting to spinal anesthesia for surgery during the intraoperative and 24-hour postoperative periods. Risk factors were examined via univariate and multivariate analysis. Of the 903 patients (69.7% were men) scheduled to undergo surgery with spinal anesthesia, 421 of them (46.6%) were older than 65 years of age. During the intraoperative and postoperative 24-hour observation period, 87 patients (28.1%) experienced nausea and 55 (17.7%) vomited. The incidence of nausea did not differ between elderly (≥ 65 years) and nonelderly patients. However, being elderly was a risk factor for vomiting (24.7% vs. 15.6%, p<0.0001). After adjustment, being elderly was an independent risk factor for vomiting (adjusted odds ratio=1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.26–2.68). In patients undergoing spinal anesthesia, the proportion of those complaining of nausea does not differ between elderly and non-elderly patients, but older patients do have a higher risk for vomiting.