Prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy: combined antiemetic treatment with dexamethasone and ginger versus dexamethasone alone.
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.
Tavlan
Aybars
A
Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Selcuk of Meram Medicine Faculty, Konya, Turkey.
Tuncer
Sema
S
Erol
Atilla
A
Reisli
Ruhiye
R
Aysolmaz
Gökhan
G
Otelcioglu
Seref
S
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
D003907:Dexamethasone; D003975:Diazepam