This study was designed to evaluate the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in different anesthesia methods.

Our study was performed on ASA I-II class patients aged between 20-75 years undergoing elective surgery. Anesthesia was induced by 5 mg/kg thiopental and 0.1 mg/kg vecuronium for the patients of first three groups. In group I (n=40), inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane, group II (n=40) inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane, group III (n=40) total intravenous anesthesia with propofol was used for maintenance and in group IV (n=40) epidural anesthesia was performed. Neuromuscular blockage was antagonised with 0.03 mg/kg neostigmine and 0.01 mg/kg atropine. The demographic data of patients, type of surgery, duration of surgery and discharge time were recorded, and observed for the incidence of PONV for 24 hours period.

PONV was observed in 7 patients of group I, in 5 patients of group II, in 2 patients of group III and in 9 patients of group IV (p<0.05) in the first 6 hours of postoperative period. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups at other intervals and recovery time. In conclusion; the incidence of PONV was decreased in total intravenous anesthesia and no significant difference was detected between recovery times.