title: Dexamethasone for reduction of nausea, vomiting and analgesic use after gynecological laparoscopic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prophylactic use of dexamethasone for reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and analgesic use after gynecological laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 90 women received either intravenous placebo, 4 mg dexamethasone or 8 mg dexamethasone at the end of surgery. PONV and analgesic requirements were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of patients experiencing PONV within 24 h after anesthesia was 53% in the 4 mg dexamethasone group (P=0.3) and 20% in the 8 mg dexamethasone group (P=0.001), compared with the placebo group (63%). Requests for indomethacin to relieve intolerable pain were less in patients in the 8 mg dexamethasone group compared with the 4 mg dexamethasone (P=0.047) or placebo (P=0.029) groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic use of 8 mg dexamethasone is effective for reducing PONV and analgesic requirements after gynecological laparoscopic surgery.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Tsukuba Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan. yfujii@med.toho-u.ac.jp
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Fujii
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nakayama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D003907:Dexamethasone