Gestão das Náuseas e Vómitos Pós-operatórios: Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common and undesirable effects associated with surgeries performed under general anaesthesia. Improper management of PONV can lead to delayed hospital discharge, prolonged return to daily activities, decreased comfort and quality of life, and consequently reduced patient satisfaction. Objective: The objective of this study is to map nursing interventions for the effective management of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults. Materials and Methods: This scoping review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. It included documents in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, following the PCC (Population, Concept, and Context) framework, focusing on nursing interventions aimed at PONV. The search was conducted using the EBSCOHost content aggregator, covering databases such as CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE Complete, MedicLatina, ERIC, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as repositories including the Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP), European Portal of Electronic Theses and Dissertations, and Open Access Theses and Dissertations. Results: The 24 articles highlighted that the management of PONV remains heavily centered on drug administration. However, several non-pharmacological interventions showed positive results in managing PONV, including supplemental oxygen use, ginger, aromatherapy with isopropyl alcohol or peppermint oil, acupressure, gentle body movements, symptom control (pain, hypotension), isotonic drinks, environmental management (odors), and techniques such as distraction and relaxation. Conclusion: It was not possible to confirm the efficacy of certain non-pharmacological interventions, such as supplemental oxygen, ginger, acupressure, and aromatherapy with peppermint and isopropyl alcohol. Therefore, future research is recommended to validate these approaches.