Prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a comparison of droperidol alone with droperidol plus dexamethasone combination

ABSTRACT

Adequate control of postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV] and early return to normal activity are important anesthetic goals. We compared the efficacy of droperidol alone with droperidol plus dexamethasone combination for preventing PONV. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study. June 2002 to November 2004, at Department of Anesthesiology, Namazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz [Iran]. Two hundred, ASA grade I-II, ambulatory gynecological surgical patients of ages 18-70 yrs received 2.5 mg of droperidol at the time of induction of general anaesthesia. At the end of the operation, group A [n = 100] received 2 ml of intravenous isotonic electrolyte solution [0.9% sodium chloride] and group B [n = 100] received 2 ml of intravenous dexamethasone [8 mg]. A standard general anesthetic technique and post op analgesia were used throughout the operation. PONV were assessed 2, 4 and 12 hours after the operation. The incidence of postoperative nausea decreased significantly in group B as compared to group A [23% vs. 49%], as was the incidence of vomiting [12% vs. 39%] [p - 0.014]. Mean duration of nausea was 34 minutes in group A and 23 minutes in group B [p < 0.001]. We conclude that addition of 8 mg of dexamethasone to droperidol prophylaxis is more effective than droperidol prophylaxis alone for successful control of PONV