title: Prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy: combined antiemetic treatment with dexamethasone and ginger versus dexamethasone alone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare the prophylactic effects of dexamethasone plus ginger and dexamethasone alone on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty patients undergoing general anaesthesia for thyroidectomy were enrolled in this randomised, double-blind study. Patients received oral diazepam 10mg with either oral placebo (group I) or 0.5g of ginger (group II) as premedication 1 hour prior to surgery. Standard general anaesthetic techniques and postoperative analgesia were employed. Both group I and group II received intravenous dexamethasone 150 microg/kg immediately before the induction of anaesthesia. Data were recorded over a 24-hour observation period after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the dexamethasone-treated group, 14 patients experienced nausea, two patients retched, three patients vomited once, two patients vomited repeatedly, and 14 patients required a rescue antiemetic. In the dexamethasone-plus-ginger-treated group, 12 patients experienced nausea, one patient retched, four patients vomited once, no patients vomited repeatedly, and 13 patients required a rescue antiemetic. Dexamethasone plus ginger did not significantly reduce nausea and vomiting compared with dexamethasone alone during the observation period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the prophylactic combination of antiemetic treatment with dexamethasone and ginger was not clinically or statistically superior to dexamethasone alone in preventing PONV in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Selcuk of Meram Medicine Faculty, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aybars
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavlan
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Ruhiye
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reisli
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aysolmaz
authors.forename: Seref
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otelcioglu
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005067:Euthyroid Sick Syndromes / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D020939:Zingiber officinale; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011292:Premedication; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D003975:Diazepam