Effectiveness of ginger for prevention of nausea and vomiting after gynecological laparoscopy

Abstract

Objective: To study the effectiveness of ginger for prevention of nausea and vomiting after gynecological laparoscopy.

Material and method: From July 2005 to October 2005, 60 inpatients who underwent laparoscopic operations for non-cancer gynecologic conditions at Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College or Vajira Hospital were randomized into Group A (n = 30) or Group B (n = 30). Group A received 3 capsules of ginger (1 capsule contained 0.5 g of ginger powder) while Group B received 3 capsules of placebo. Both groups received their medicine 1 hour prior the operation. Nausea and vomiting were assessed with the Visual Analogue Scores (VAS) and presence of vomiting at 2 and 6 hours after the operation.

Results: Median VAS at 2 hours post operation of Group A was not significantly different from that of Group B with the median of 0 (range, 0-5.4) and 0.15 (range, 0-10) respectively (95% CI from -2.59 to 0.90 and p = 0.142). At 6 hours post operation, the median VAS of Group A was significantly lower than group B, 0.55 (range, 0-7.4) versus 2.80 (range, 0-10) (95% CI from -3.61 to -0.73 and p = 0.015). Presence of vomiting at 2 hours was not different between the two groups, 10% in Group A and 20% in Group B (95% CI from -28% to 8% and p = 0.278). At 6 hours, 23.3% of group A had an episode of vomiting compared to 46.7% of group B (95% CI from -47% to 1% and p = 0.058).

Conclusion: Ginger has shown efficacy for prevention of nausea and borderline significance to prevention vomiting after gynecological laparoscopy at 6 hour post operation.