Sickness after anaesthetic

Will I feel sick after my operation?

Not everyone feels sick after an operation or anaesthetic, although it is a very common problem. Whether you will feel sick after an operation will depend on what operation you are having, what anaesthetic and other drugs you receive, and on who you are (see below).

Why do some people get sickness after anaesthetic or an operation

There are a number of factors that we know affect how likely you are to feel sick after an operation.

The operation you are having

Some operations cause more sickness than others. Examples include:

• Operations in the abdomen or genital area.

• Gynaecological procedures.

• Ear, nose or throat operations.

• Surgery to correct a squint of the eye.

• Very long operations.

Drugs that are used

Some drugs are known to cause sickness including:

• Anaesthetic drugs, including some anaesthetic gases.

• Pain relief drugs (especially the morphine-like pain-relieving medicines, including codeine).

Who you are

Some people are more likely to suffer from post-operative sickness:

• Younger age.

• Women.

• Non-smokers.

• Those who suffer from 'travel sickness'.

• Anyone who has suffered from post-operative sickness before.

Travelling shortly after receiving a general anaesthetic. If you are going home the same day, you may find that you feel sick or vomit during the journey. You are more sensitive to travel sickness during this time.

I felt sick after my last operation. Will I feel sick after this operation?

If you have had sickness after surgery previously, you are more likely to have it again than if you have had an anaesthetic previously without any sickness.

However, your operation and the anaesthetic used may be different and less likely to cause sickness. Also, you may now be less likely to suffer (particularly because the risk of sickness after surgery gets less as you get older).

How long does the feeling of sickness last?

Usually the sensation of sickness lasts an hour or two, or stops quickly after you receive treatment for it. Much less often, feeling sick can be more prolonged and can last for more than a day.

Can feeling sick after an operation harm me?

Feeling sick or vomiting after an operation is distressing. It can make the pain of your operation feel worse, particularly if you are vomiting or retching (trying to be sick, but nothing coming up). It can delay when you start eating and drinking after your operation. This may keep you in hospital longer.

Very rarely, if vomiting is severe and lasts a long time, it can result in other more serious problems, such as damage to your operation site, tears to your oesophagus (gullet), or damage to your lungs.

Preventing sickness after anaesthetic

There are a number of ways that your chance of suffering sickness can be reduced. These include:

• You may be able to have your operation performed under a regional anaesthetic rather than general anaesthetic, as this may reduce the sickness that you feel.

• You may be given one or several 'antisickness' medicines, called anti-emetics, as part of your anaesthetic.

• Some anaesthetic drugs are less likely to cause sickness than others. Your anaesthetist may decide that you are suitable to receive them.

• Acupuncture or acupressure can be used to prevent or treat sickness after surgery, but not all hospitals are able to provide this treatment.

Before any operation, always tell the anaesthetist or other member of the hospital team if you have previously felt sick or been sick after an operation, if you think you may be at increased risk because of any other reason, or if you're worried about feeling sick.

Is there any treatment available if I feel sick after my operation?

Yes. If you feel sick after your operation, the methods used to prevent you feeling sick can also be used to treat it. For example, you could be given anti-emetic (anti-sickness) drugs and intravenous fluids.

Aromatherapy can also help: smelling rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) may help you feel better. It is much easier to relieve the feeling of sickness if it is dealt with before it gets too bad.

What drugs may I be given and do they have side effects?

Anti-emetic drugs can be given as a tablet or as an injection. Injections can be given intravenously into your cannula or into your leg or buttock muscle. Intravenous injections work more quickly and reliably and avoid the need for another needle.

The same drugs are used to prevent and treat sickness after surgery. There are several different types. A combination of anti-emetic drugs may be given, as this is more effective than one drug given on its own.

All medicines have some side effects, although with anti-emetics these are generally minor and temporary, or rare. The following are commonly used anti-emetic drugs.

• Cyclizine (Valoid®).

• Ondansetron (Zofran®) or granisetron (Kytril®).

• Dexamethasone.

• Droperidol can be used for prevention and treatment of feeling sick and being sick after an operation. It is given by intravenous injection.

• Prochlorperazine (Stemetil®).

Can I do anything to avoid feeling sick?

After your surgery:

• Avoid sitting up or getting out of bed too quickly.

• Avoid eating and drinking too soon after your operation, but do not delay too long. Once you are awake you should start drinking and eating within 10 to 20 minutes as this improves your recovery. Start with small sips of water and slowly build up to bigger drinks and light meals. However, if you have had a more complicated operation your surgeon may not allow drinking or eating at first. Your nurses will give you advice about this.

• Good pain relief is important. Although some pain-relieving medicines can make you feel sick, severe pain will too.

• Taking slow deep breaths can help to reduce any feeling of sickness.