Objective:

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a frequent complication following colorectal surgery. The present study investigated the risk factors for PONV after colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods:

A retrospective study of 204 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer was conducted. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the clinicopathological factors associated with PONV.

Results:

The overall incidence of postoperative nausea (PON) and postoperative vomit (POV) was 26.5% (54/204), and 12.3% (25/204), respectively. The univariate analysis showed that female gender (p < 0.001), no current alcohol drinking habit (p = 0.003), and no stoma creation (p = 0.023) were associated with PON. Postoperative vomit was significantly correlated with female gender (p = 0.009), high body mass index (p = 0.017), and right-sided colon cancer (p = 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender (odds ratio [OR]: 4.225; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.170-8.226; p < 0.001) was an independent risk factor for PON. A high body mass index (OR: 1.148; 95%CI: 1.018-1.295; p = 0.025), and right-sided colon cancer (OR: 3.337; 95%CI: 1.287-8.652; p = 0.013) were independent risk factors for POV.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that female gender for PON and a high body mass index and right-sided colon cancer for POV are risk factors after colorectal cancer surgery. An assessment using these factors might be helpful for predicting PONV. (AU)