Objective Previously, we reported that antiemetics (droperidol and/or dexamethasone) could significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic gynecological surgery (LGS). We retrospectively investigated anesthesia practice during the era earlier than the above-mentioned report to identify factors affecting PONV.

Methods We investigated 1,221 patients who underwent LGS at Juntendo University Hospital between 2007 and 2009. Effects of nine covariates likely to affect PONV on the actual incidence of PONV were examined with the multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results The actual incidence of PONV developing until nine hours after the transfer to the ward was 47.3% (577/1,221) in the total cohort. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that longer duration of anesthesia (in hours) was associated with the increased incidence of PONV (odds ratio [OR], 1.170; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.000-1.360; p = 0.0467), the use of the reversal agent neostigmine co-administrated with atropine was associated with the lower incidence of PONV (OR, 0.746; 95% CI, 0.585-0.950; p = 0.0177), and no use of PCA and the use of fentanyl PCA without droperidol were associated with the higher incidence of PONV, compared with the use of fentanyl PCA with droperidol (OR, 1.810; 95% CI, 1.250-2.640; p = 0.0019; and OR, 2.500; 95% CI, 1.880-3.310; p < 0.0001; respectively).

Conclusions Longer duration of anesthesia was associated with the increased incidence of PONV. Addition of droperidol to the PCA infusate and the use of reversal agent neostigmine co-administrated with atropine were associated with the reduced incidence of PONV.