title: Does dexamethasone prevent subarachnoid meperidin-induced nausea, vomiting and pruritus after cesarean delivery?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Opioid-induced side effects such as nausea and vomiting and pruritus are common and may be more debilitating than pain itself. We performed a study to assess the efficacy of dexamethasone in reducing postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pruritus in patients receiving neuraxial anesthesia with meperidine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two women undergoing cesarean section were enrolled in the study. The control group and dexamethasone group received intravenously normal saline and dexamethasone, respectively, before spinal anesthesia. The occurrence of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pruritus was assessed for 24 h in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of nausea and vomiting during the 24 h follow-up period was 37% and 22.2% for group saline and 20% and 12% for group dexamethasone, respectively (P=0.175, 0.469). The incidence of pruritus was not significantly different between the two groups. Pruritus severity was significantly less in the dexamethasone group than in the saline group (P=0.019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic dexamethasone does not reduce the incidence of subarachnoid meperidine-induced nausea, vomiting, and pruritus in women undergoing cesarean delivery.
authors: Department of Anaesthesia, Babol University of Medical Science, Babol, Iran.
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Banihashem
authors: Bahman
authors: B
authors: Hasannasab
authors: Hakimeh
authors: H
authors: Alereza
keywords: Cesarean delivery; meperidine; nausea and vomiting; pruritus; spinal anesthesia
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