Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy and Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is a common disorder, affecting up to 80% of pregnancies. The etiology is thought to relate to both hormonal and hereditary factors. Symptom onset typically occurs early in pregnancy, between 6 and 8 weeks’ gestation. In the absence of concerning clinical findings or features suggestive of another etiology, the diagnosis is one of exclusion. Therapeutic approaches are tailored based on severity of symptoms and adverse effects of treatment; therapy is escalated depending on persistence of symptoms and presence of dehydration. Postoperative nausea and vomiting can be experienced during the first 24-48 h following recovery after surgery. It too is common, the incidence attributable to both patient and surgical risk factors. The etiology is multifactorial, and treatment is aimed at providing prophylactic medications and addressing risk factors.