A COMPARISON OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN, NAUSEA AND VOMITING IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING SPINAL AND GENERAL ANESTHESIA
Keywords:
Spinal anesthesia, general anesthesia, postoperative pain, postoperative nausea, vomiting, PONV, anesthesia comparisonAbstract
Background: Postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting (PONV) are usual effects after surgery that may affect patient recovery and satisfaction. Anesthetic approach has a significant impact on the frequency
and severity of these results.
Aim: The purpose of this study is to compare postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting in individuals undergoing spinal anesthetic with general anesthesia.
Methods: A prospective, comparative study was carried out on 60 patients (30 general anaesthesia and 30 spinal anaesthesia) adult patients receiving elective surgery. Patients were separated into two groups: those receiving spinal anaesthesia (Group A) 30 general anaesthesia and those receiving general anaesthesia (Group B) 30 spinal anaesthesia. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to quantify post operative pain at (1-3 hrs, 4 hrs, 8 hrs, 12hrs, 18hrs &24hrs) after the surgery. The incidence and intensity of nausea and vomiting were assessed for 24 hours (1-3 hrs, 4 hrs, 8 hrs, 12hrs, 18hrs &24hrs) after the surgery. The pain has been determined with visual analogue scale, nausea and vomiting is determined by PONV impact scale.
Results: Postoperative pain was higher in the spinal anaesthesia group compared to the general anaesthesia group, particularly at 24 hours (p = 0.04*). The incidence of vomiting was similar in both groups, while nausea occurred more frequently in the spinal anaesthesia group. Patients under spinal
anaesthesia required more analgesics and antiemetic support compared to those under general anaesthesia.
Conclusion: The main findings demonstrate that postoperative painis more in spinal anaesthesia than in general anaesthesia. The PONV findings demonstrate that vomiting in both groups is equivalent, although nausea is caused morein spinal anaesthesia than in general anaesthesia. These data indicate that spinal anaesthetic may be preferred in certain surgical circumstances to improve patient comfort and prevent post operative problems.
