The efficacy of ginger in prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting after outpatient gynecological laparoscopy.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of ginger in prevention of nausea and vomiting after outpatient gynecological laparoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Double blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thammasat Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January, 2001-December, 2001, 80 patients who underwent outpatient gynecological laparoscopy were randomly allocated into group A (n = 40) and group B (n = 40). The patients in group A received 2 capsules of ginger (1 capsule contain 0.5 g of ginger powder) 1 h before the procedure while the patients in group B received the placebo. The visual analogue nausea scores (VANS) and vomiting times were evaluated at 2, 4 and 24 hours after operation. RESULT: There was a significant difference in the incidence of the nausea between group A [12 (30%)] and group B [23 (57.50%)]. The VANS was lower in group A than in group B at 2 and 4 hours (p < 0.05). No difference of VANS at 24 hours was found in both groups. Incidence and frequency of vomiting in group A were lower than group B but there were not statistically different. CONCLUSION: From our data, ginger is effective in prevention of nausea after outpatient gynecological laparoscopy.