The efficacy of ginger in prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting after outpatient gynecological laparoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To study the efficacy of ginger in prevention of nausea and vomiting after outpatient gynecological laparoscopy.


METHODS
Double blind randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thammasat Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University.


METHODS
From January, 2001-December, 2001, 80 patients who underwent outpatient gynecological laparoscopy were randomly allocated into group A (n = 40) and group B (n = 40). The patients in group A received 2 capsules of ginger (1 capsule contain 0.5 g of ginger powder) 1 h before the procedure while the patients in group B received the placebo. The visual analogue nausea scores (VANS) and vomiting times were evaluated at 2, 4 and 24 hours after operation.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in the incidence of the nausea between group A [12 (30%)] and group B [23 (57.50%)]. The VANS was lower in group A than in group B at 2 and 4 hours (p < 0.05). No difference of VANS at 24 hours was found in both groups. Incidence and frequency of vomiting in group A were lower than group B but there were not statistically different.


CONCLUSIONS
From our data, ginger is effective in prevention of nausea after outpatient gynecological laparoscopy.
Pongrojpaw
Densak
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
Chiamchanya
Charoenchai
C
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D020939:Zingiber officinale; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome