DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjams.2025.v13i11.014

Pages: 1876-1880

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are among the most distressing postoperative complications, particularly following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The Apfel risk score offers a simplified method for predicting PONV; however, limited evidence exists regarding its applicability in South Asian populations. This study aimed to assess the impact of Apfel’s risk score on the incidence of PONV and recovery outcomes in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a tertiary center in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Anaesthesia, Analgesia, and Intensive Care Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh (Present Bangladesh Medical University), from July 2017 to June 2018. 120 adult patients (ASA I–II) undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were evaluated. PONV was recorded for 24 h postoperatively and graded using a four-point scale (G0–G3). The recovery outcomes included time to ambulation, hospital stay, rescue antiemetic use, and patient satisfaction. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: The overall incidence of PONV was 41.7%. Patients with an Apfel score of 4 experienced significantly higher PONV (46.6%) than those with a score of 3 (37.1%) (p = 0.033). Higher scores were associated with delayed ambulation (6.2 ± 1.8 h vs. 5.0 ± 1.4 h), longer hospital stays (1.6 ± 0.5 days vs. 1.2 ± 0.4 days), and lower satisfaction (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The Apfel risk score effectively predicted PONV and correlated with slower postoperative recovery, confirming its clinical utility in the Bangladeshi surgical population.