Correct statement(s) concerning complications occurring in the post-anesthetic care unit include which of the following?

c. Hypothermia results in a deleterious effect on drug metabolism therefore delaying recovery from anesthesia

d. The serotonin antagonist, odansetron, holds promise as the superior antiemetic agent in the perioperative period

Twenty-four percent of patients experience a post-anesthetic care unit complication. Nausea, vomiting and airway support comprise 70% of these complications. The need to maintain airway support is by far the most common respiratory complication. Hypothermia has a deleterious effect on altering drug metabolism and delaying recovery. Nausea and vomiting are rarely unifactorial and cause considerable discomfort to the patient. There is little evidence to favor one anesthetic or anesthetic technique over another. Nitrous oxide does not appear to increase incidence of nausea in well documented studies. The new serotonin antagonist, odansetron, has been shown in several studies to be superior to other agents as a perioperative antiemetic agent.

Perioperative myocardial ischemia is an extremely important complication but difficult to recognize. Diagnosis is complicated by the fact that only 10—30% of patients suffering documented myocardial infarction will have pain and that postoperative EKG changes are often nonspecific. One must therefore look for secondary indications of on-going ischemia such as hypotension, arrhythmias, elevated filling pressures, or postoperative oliguria.