• Ronit Lavi, Rita Katznelson, Davy Cheng, Leonid Minkovich, Andy Klein, Jo Carroll, Jacek Karski, and George Djaiani.
• Department of Anesthesia, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 2011 Feb 1;25(1):105-9.

ObjectivePostoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are significant morbidities following cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine if application of a nasogastric (NG) tube during cardiac surgery can reduce the prevalence of postoperative PONV.DesignThis study was a prospective randomized controlled trial.SettingUniversity tertiary referral center.ParticipantsTwo hundred two patients undergoing elective cardiac procedures.InterventionsPatients were prospectively enrolled and randomized to either receive or not receive an NG tube after induction of anesthesia. Standard anesthetic technique and postoperative care were employed in all patients. Preoperative demographic data, pain score, nausea score and incidence of vomiting were recorded early (0-8 hours) and late (8-16 hours) following extubation. Antiemetic and analgesic medications were compared between the 2 groups.Measurements And Main ResultsOne hundred three patients were randomized to no an NG tube (controls) and 99 received an NG tube as part of their perioperative management. Demographic data and surgical characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. However, the control group had more smokers. Incidence and severity of nausea, pain scores, and analgesic requirements were similar between the 2 groups. Prevalence of vomiting was more frequent in the control group (24%) than in the NG tube group (10%, p = 0.007), and was more frequent in patients who underwent valve and redo procedures.ConclusionsUse of an NG tube during cardiac surgery may reduce the incidence of postoperative vomiting.Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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