Key result
Supplemental oxygen reduced nausea scores by 50% and mean vomiting episodes (4 vs 19) compared to room air during emergency transport of patients with minor trauma.
Why the study?
Does supplemental oxygen reduce nausea and vomiting in patients during emergency ambulance transport?
Systematic Review
Does supplemental oxygen reduce nausea and vomiting in patients during emergency ambulance transport?
Effect estimate: 50% reduction in nausea scores
Absolute Event Rate: 4% vs 19%
Supplemental oxygen may be a simple and inexpensive method to reduce nausea and vomiting during emergency ambulance transport, though current evidence is limited to a single low-quality trial.
May reduce nausea during ambulance transport; leaves open confirmation beyond this single low-quality trial.
Objective To determine the effectiveness of oxygen in decreasing nausea and vomiting during emergency transport. Design Systematic review of randomised controlled trials investigating the use of oxygen for reducing nausea and vomiting during emergency ambulance transport. Participants Patients with nausea and vomiting during emergency ambulance transport. Results Systematic review of the literature identified one trial suitable for review. The randomised controlled trial investigated the use of oxygen to reduce nausea and vomiting during emergency transport of patients with minor trauma. The trial reported that supplemental oxygen reduced nausea scores by 50% and reduced vomiting (a mean of 4 vomiting episodes in the oxygen group compared to a mean of 19 vomiting episodes in the room air group). These results are very similar to previous literature on the use of oxygen for post operative nausea and vomiting. However, the author's choice of statistical analysis compromises the quality of the trial and the significance of the results. Conclusions Oxygen as an intervention is inexpensive and has been successful in the treatment of perioperative and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Oxygen may be a simple method of curbing uncomfortable and potentially dangerous vomiting in patients being transported by ambulance. The use of 100% oxygen therapy in the prehospital environment for nausea, motion sickness and vomiting is worthy of further research.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Erin Smith (2003) conducted a systematic review in Nausea and vomiting during emergency ambulance transport. Supplemental oxygen vs. Room air was evaluated on Nausea scores and vomiting episodes (50% reduction in nausea scores). Supplemental oxygen reduced nausea scores by 50% and mean vomiting episodes (4 vs 19) compared to room air during emergency transport of patients with minor trauma.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: