Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2006 Mar;2(1):12-5.
doi: 10.4103/0972-9941.25671.

Role of pre-operative dexamethasone as prophylaxis for postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic surgery

P Gupta  1 , J Khanna, A K Mitramustafi, V K Bhartia
Affiliations

Role of pre-operative dexamethasone as prophylaxis for postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic surgery

P Gupta et al. J Minim Access Surg. 2006 Mar.

Abstract

Introduction: Laparoscopic surgery provides tremendous benefits to patients, including faster recovery, shorter hospital stay and prompt return to normal activities. Despite the minimally invasive nature of laparoscopy, high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting remains a major cause for morbidity. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether preoperative Dexamethasone can reduce PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic Surgery.

Materials and methods: The study included 200 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We divided the patients into two groups; one group received preoperative Dexamethasone (group 1) and the other group received Ondansetron (group 2). After surgery, patients were observed for any episode of nausea or vomiting, or whether the patient required any anti-emetic drug in the postoperative period.

Results: The two groups, (Dexamethasone and Ondansetron) were comparable in outcome, in terms of post-operative nausea and vomiting, in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In group I, 24% of patients had nausea, as compared to 30% in group II (P=0.2481). Similarly, 12% of patients in group I and 18% of patients in group II had vomiting (P=0.3574).

Conclusion: We conclude that, preoperative intravenous low dose Dexamethasone reduces the incidence of PONV and is comparable to intravenous Ondansetron.

Keywords: Laparoscopic surgery; postoperative nausea and vomiting; preoperative dexamethasone; steroids.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Bronicki RA, Backer CL, Baden HP, Mavroudis C, Crawford SE, Green TP. Dexamethasone reduced the inflammatory response of cardiopulmonary bypass in children. Ann Thoracic Surg. 2000;69:1490–5. - PubMed
    1. Italian Group for antiemetic research. Ondensetron versus metoclopromide, both combined with dexamethasone in the prevention of Cisplatin induced delayed emesis. J Clin Oncol. 1997;15:124–30. - PubMed
    1. Wang JJ, HO ST, Liu YH, Lee SC, Liu YC, Liao YC, et al. Dexamethasone reduces nausea & vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. BJA. 1999;83:772–5. - PubMed
    1. Italian Group for antiemetic research. Dexamethasone, granisetron or both for prevention of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy for cancer. N Eng J Med. 1995;332:1–5. - PubMed
    1. Callery MP. Preoperative steroids for laparoscopic surgery. Ann Surg. 2003;238:661–2. - PMC - PubMed