BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common problem after general anesthesia. Compared with inhalational anesthetics, propofol has an antiemetic effect. We investigated the incidence of PONV after propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia for strabismus surgery in pediatric patients, and evaluated the effectiveness of ondansetron prophylaxis after sevoflurane anesthesia.

METHODS: A healthy pediatric patients (n = 150) were divided into three groups. Group P (n = 50) received intravenous anesthesia with propofol; Group S (n = 50), inhalational anesthesia with sevoflurane; and Group S-O (n = 50), inhalational anesthesia with sevoflurane and 0.06 mg/kg (up to 4 mg) of ondansetron. The occurrence and intensity of PONV were recorded.

RESULTS: The incidence of PONV after sevoflurane-ondansetron anesthesia did not differ from that after propofol anesthesia, but was significantly attenuated. The recurrence of PONV after sevoflurane-ondansetron was lower than after propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane anesthesia with ondansetron prophylaxis may be a good alternative to propofol in terms of avoiding PONV.