Postoperative nausea and vomiting can be a side effect of which inhalational anesthetic and analgesic?

Postoperative nausea and vomiting can be a side effect of which inhalational anesthetic and analgesic?

• A. Nitrous oxide and fentanyl
• B. Nitrous oxide and morphine
• C. Halothane and propofol
• D. Sevoflurane and acetaminophen

Answer: (B)

Nitrous oxide and morphine can both contribute to postoperative nausea and vomiting. Nitrous oxide, while often used for its analgesic properties and fast onset, is known to have a higher incidence of side effects such as nausea and vomiting compared to other agents. Morphine, an opioid analgesic, can cause nausea as a common side effect due to its central nervous system effects, particularly through stimulation of the chemoreceptor trigger zone. When combined, nitrous oxide's rapid onset and morphine's analgesic effects are beneficial in the perioperative setting, but they both retain a risk profile that includes the potential for postoperative nausea and vomiting. This makes the combination a notable consideration in managing patients after surgery, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and potentially using antiemetics to mitigate these side effects. The other options contain anesthetics and analgesics that either are less associated with nausea and vomiting (like propofol or acetaminophen) or represent combinations that may have a lower overall risk for these postoperative complications.

Nitrous oxide and morphine can both contribute to postoperative nausea and vomiting. Nitrous oxide, while often used for its analgesic properties and fast onset, is known to have a higher incidence of side effects such as nausea and vomiting compared to other agents. Morphine, an opioid analgesic, can cause nausea as a common side effect due to its central nervous system effects, particularly through stimulation of the chemoreceptor trigger zone.

When combined, nitrous oxide's rapid onset and morphine's analgesic effects are beneficial in the perioperative setting, but they both retain a risk profile that includes the potential for postoperative nausea and vomiting. This makes the combination a notable consideration in managing patients after surgery, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and potentially using antiemetics to mitigate these side effects.

The other options contain anesthetics and analgesics that either are less associated with nausea and vomiting (like propofol or acetaminophen) or represent combinations that may have a lower overall risk for these postoperative complications.