title: Prospective randomized, double-blind comparative study of dexamethasone, ondansetron, and ondansetron plus dexamethasone as prophylactic antiemetic therapy in patients undergoing day-case gynaecological surgery.
abstract: Dexamethasone alone and in combination with selective 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonists is of benefit in the prophylaxis of post-operative nausea and vomiting. In this study, the effectiveness of such a combination in comparison to either drug alone is investigated in day case gynaecological surgery. A total of 177 patients were randomized to three treatment groups: dexamethasone 8 mg, ondansetron 4 mg, and dexamethasone 8 mg plus ondansetron 4 mg. The only significant difference between groups was seen in the first 3 h when failure of prophylaxis was more frequent in patients who had received dexamethasone alone (P=0.0085; Fisher's exact probability test). Confidence interval analysis indicates a modest treatment effect for the combination and the decision whether to perform a larger study depends upon whether such an effect is clinically relevant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D017294:Ondansetron; D003907:Dexamethasone