Many decades ago, when ether anaesthesia was common, nausea and vomiting were typically associated with the anaesthetic. Currently, with the use of modern anaesthetic agents, the surgical procedure itself is more likely to produce these side effects. Another predisposing factor is excessive body weight. The effective anti-nausea drugs that are available today make it possible to prevent nausea from developing in many cases, or – if it does occur – to treat it successfully. It has become a routine practise to administer these drugs during the operation, especially to patients with a tendency to become nauseated, in order to avoid postoperative nausea. This prophylaxis is