Abstract
Administration of 80% intraoperative oxygen has been proposed as being a cheap, safe and effective means reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) but no studies have been performed in the high risk paediatr population. We tested whether 80% intraoperative oxygen reduces PONV in well children undergoing electi day-stay dental treatment under general anaesthesia. Ninety-five children received standardized sevoflurane, morphin vecuronium anaesthesia with either 30% or 80% intraoperative oxygen and no antiemetic prophylaxis in a randomize double blind, prospective trial. There was no difference in PONV or in the use of rescue ondansetron between the groups. The total incidence of PONV was 40% in the group that received 30% oxygen and 33% in those that receive 80% oxygen. High inspired intraoperative oxygen was not found to significantly reduce PONV in well children undergoing dental work under general anaesthesia.