A comparative study of the antiemetic efficacy of dexamethasone, ondansetron, and metoclopramide in patients undergoing gynecological surgery.
BACKGROUND
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are some of the most-common and undesirable adverse effects after surgery performed under general anesthesia. We investigated the prophylactic value of dexamethasone as an alternate to ondansetron or metoclopramide to prevent PONV after gynecologic surgery.


METHODS
One hundred sixty ASA I-II patients scheduled for elective gynecologic surgery were enrolled. Before induction of anesthesia, patients were randomly allocated to receive intravenously dexamethasone (8 mg) in group D, ondansetron (4 mg) in group O, metoclopramide (10 mg) in group M, and saline (2 mL) in group P. Total incidence of nausea and vomiting, rescue antiemetic requirement, pain scores, and any adverse effects were recorded at 3 observational periods (0-2 hours, 2-12 hours, and 12-24 hours).


RESULTS
Total rates of PON, POV, and PONV were significantly higher in group P at 0-2 hours and 2-12 hours compared with group D, O, and M (P<.05). There was no difference in PON, POV, and PONV among D, O, and M groups. None of the groups differed in PONV in the subsequent 12-24 hours. Number of patients requiring rescue antiemetic was significantly higher in group P than the other groups at 0-2 hours (10%, 10%, 15%, and 45% in group D, O, M, and P) (P<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Prophylactic IV dexamethasone 8 mg significantly reduces the incidence of PONV in gynecologic surgery. At this dosage, dexamethasone is as effective as ondansetron 4 mg and metoclopramide 10 mg, and is more-effective than placebo.
Bilgin
Tugsan Egemen
TE
Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Mersin University School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey. tugsanb@yahoo.com
Birbicer
Handan
H
Ozer
Zeliha
Z
Doruk
Nurcan
N
Tok
Ekrem
E
Oral
Ugur
U
D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000932:Antiemetics; D017294:Ondansetron; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008787:Metoclopramide