Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CPAN Practice Questions and Study Guide

General anesthesia is associated with a higher risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting due to several factors related to the medications used and the physiological effects of the anesthesia itself. During general anesthesia, patients are often administered potent anesthetic agents, which can affect the central nervous system and gastrointestinal system. These agents may irritate the stomach lining or influence the vomiting center in the brain, leading to an increased incidence of nausea and vomiting following surgery.

Additionally, the use of neuromuscular blockers, which are frequently a part of general anesthetic protocols, can also contribute to nausea as they may provoke postoperative sensitivity in some patients. Factors such as surgical type, length of surgery, and patient-specific characteristics like history of motion sickness or previous reactions to anesthesia can further elevate the risk.

In contrast, local anesthesia is used to numb a specific area without affecting consciousness, minimizing the likelihood of nausea. Regional anesthesia, while affecting a larger area, still tends to have lower associated risks of postoperative nausea compared to general anesthesia. Monitored anesthesia care, typically involving sedation aspects without full general anesthesia, also tends to result in lower nausea rates for similar reasons.