Elevated serum pepsinogen level predicts postoperative nausea and vomiting and pain in females with obesity following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is the most common side effect after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), affecting patients’ postoperative recovery and increasing the medical and economic burden. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between serum pepsinogen and PONV.

Patients with obesity who underwent LSG in our center between January 2021 and December 2022 were divided into PONV and NoPONV groups and analyzed retrospectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for PONV.

219 female patients were enrolled, with an average BMI of 36.74 ± 8.34 kg/m² and aged 32.61 ± 6.18 years. PONV occurred in 157 patients (71.7%). The influencing factors of PONV with different severity were analyzed, and the results showed that the severity of postoperative pain (χ2 = 13.169, p-values = 0.004), PGI (χ2 = 14.625, p-values = 0.002), PGII (χ2 = 25.916, p-values = 0.000), and PGR (χ2 = 17.697, p-values = 0.001) had statistical significance. Binary logistic regression showed that PGI was a risk factor for PONV with a OR (ng/mL) value of 1.013 (95% CI: 1.001–1.024, p-values = 0.037), while PGR was a protective factor for PONV with an OR(ng/mL) value of 0.952 (95% CI: 0.925–0.979, p-values = 0.001).

The incidence of PONV after LSG is high. Higher PGI may be a risk factor for promoting PONV after LSG. The higher the preoperative PGI, the later the onset of PONV; the longer the duration, the more serious the degree.