Comparison of the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting between women undergoing open or robot-assisted thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Open thyroidectomy is associated with a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in up to 70 % of cases. Use of the recently introduced robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy using a gasless transaxillary approach has been increasing because of its several advantages over open thyroidectomy. This study compared the incidence of PONV in the women who underwent open or robot-assisted thyroidectomy.

METHODS: This prospective, double-blinded study enrolled 170 women 20-60 years of age who were scheduled for conventional open thyroidectomy (group O) or robot-assisted thyroidectomy (group R). A standard anesthetic technique, including sevoflurane and air in oxygen, was used. During a 0-24-h postoperative period, the presence and severity of PONV (nausea, retching/vomiting), severity of pain, need for rescue antiemetics, and the degree of patient satisfaction were evaluated.

RESULTS: During the 0-6-h postoperative period, the incidence of PONV and mean pain score (40.0 vs. 51.8 %and 4.2 vs. 4.8 in groups R and O, respectively) were not significantly different. At 6-24 h postoperatively, the incidence of PONV (18.8 vs. 44.7 %), severe emesis (11.8 vs. 29.4 %) and mean pain score (2.8 vs. 3.8) were significantly lower in group R compared to group O, respectively. Overall, the incidence of PONV (42.4 vs. 63.5 %) and severe emesis (20.0 vs. 43.5 %) were significantly lower in group R compared to group O, respectively. The incidence of satisfied patients 6 and 24 h after the end of anesthesia (55.3 vs. 28.2 and 82.4 vs. 58.8 %) were significantly higher in group R compared to group O, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Robotic thyroidectomy reduces the incidence and severity of PONV compared to open thyroidectomy during a 0-24-h postoperative period.