ABSTRACT
To determine the efficacy of intravenous metoclopramide alone and in combination with dexamethasone in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV] in patients undergoing strabismus surgery. Single blinded, randomized, interventional study. This study was conducted in the department of Anaesthesiology at Nishtar Hospital, Multan from October 2005 to October 2006. After the approval of the hospital's ethical committee, the study was conducted on 60 patients who were randomly divided into two groups, each group containing 30 patients. All of the patients were between 2-14 years of age and were A.S.A-I. Randomization was done by envelope draw method. The patients received either metoclopramide 150 micro g/kg or dexamethasone 150 micro g/kg with metoclopramide 150 micro g/kg combination IV, 30 minutes before the induction of anesthesia. General anesthesia was induced with thiopentone sodium, nalbuphine, succinylcholine and maintained with isoflurane and N[2]O+O[2] in both groups. PONV were evulated postoperatively. Patients in group II who received metoclopramide plus dexamethasone experienced significantly less PONV during the first 24 h after surgery. In this study, a single dose of metoclopramide plus dexamethasone [150 micro g/kg of each drug] produced better antiemetic effects after strabismus surgery than metoclopramide alone