Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common and distressing complications experienced by patients undergoing cesarean section procedures performed under spinal anesthesia. PONV can delay hospital discharge, increase healthcare costs, and negatively impact patient satisfaction and quality of recovery.
Aim: To reduce abdominal distension and difficulty in defecating due to GIS immobility by using various techniques (e.g., chewing gum, acupressure).
Methods: This cohort study comprised 260 pregnant women who presented to the maternity hospital at Zagazig university hospitals for elective caesarean section between January 2021 and January 2022. Spinal anesthesia was used for their caesarean section. All the patients were classified into 4 groups: Group I (control group), Group II (patients received ondansetron), Group III (patients applied acupunctures) and Group IV (patients that used chewing gum).
Results: The VAS for nausea and vomiting showed significant differences between each group and the control group. The groups that received acupuncture and ondansetron showed the most improvements. Regarding the VAS for pain, every group differed significantly from the control group with the ondansetron group demonstrating the greatest improvement. Regarding flatus passage, all groups significantly differed from the control group. The acupuncture group exhibited the greatest improvement, followed by the ondansetron group. All groups differed significantly from the control group in terms of stool passing; the ondansetron group exhibited the greatest improvement, followed by the chewing gum group.
Conclusion: It is important to think about prophylaxis to prevent PONV in every obstetric patient undergoing a cesarean section. Both acupressure and sugar-free gum chewing were effective in reducing the frequency and severity of post-operative discomfort following vasectomy while the patient was under spinal anesthesia.