Postoperative nausea and vomiting

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is the common complication of nausea, vomiting, or retching experienced by a person within the first 24 hours following a surgical procedure. Untreated, PONV affects about 30% of people undergoing general anesthesia each year, with rates rising to 70–80% among those considered high-risk. Postoperative nausea and vomiting can be highly distressing for people undergoing surgery and may pose significant barriers towards recovery, cause surgical complications, and result in delayed discharge from the surgical center if not managed properly.