Dexamethasone alone does not prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting in women undergoing dilatation and curettage: a comparison with droperidol and saline.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prophylactic effect of dexamethasone on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in women undergoing dilatation and curettage. Droperidol and saline were served as control.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty women (n = 40 in each group) undergoing dilatation and curettage under intravenous anesthesia were enrolled in this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Immediately before the induction of anesthesia, group 1 patients received i.v. dexamethasone 8 mg; group 2 patients received i.v. droperidol 1.25 mg; group 3 patients received i.v. droperidol 1.25 mg and dexamethasone 8 mg, and group 4 received i.v. saline.


RESULTS
We found that dexamethasone alone did not reduce the incidence of PONV in a 24 h postoperative period. Droperidol was effective for this purpose with incidence of PONV of 25% (P < 0.05). A combination of droperidol and dexamethasone was also effective and was the most effective regimen during the postoperative period of 2-24 h.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that dexamethasone (8 mg) alone does not prevent PONV in women undergoing dilatation and curettage. Droperidol is effective. Dexamethasone enhances the antiemetic effect of droperidol.
Tzeng
J I
JI
Department of Anesthesiology, Municipal Women's and Children's General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tswei
T S
TS
Tang
C S
CS
Ho
S T
ST
Wang
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000932:Antiemetics; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004329:Droperidol