Effect of Low Dose Dexamethasone upon the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting after Thyroidectomy.
10.4097/kjae.2003.45.5.636
- Author:
Suk Joo SEO
1
;
Kyung Han KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Busan, Korea. kimkh@kosinmed.or.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Randomized Controlled Trial
- Keywords:
antiemetic;
dexamethasone;
postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)
- MeSH:
Anesthesia;
Antiemetics;
Dexamethasone*;
Humans;
Incidence;
Length of Stay;
Pain, Postoperative;
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting*;
Postoperative Period;
Thyroidectomy*;
Wound Healing;
Wound Infection
- From:Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
2003;45(5):636-640
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common and unpleasant experiences. Several studies have demonstrated that dexamethasone has a potent antiemetic effect for the prophylaxis of PONV, and that dexamethasone is beneficial in the management of acute surgical pain because of its potent anti-inflammatory effect. In this randomized study, we evaluated the effect of dexamethasone 5 mg on PONV and pain in 73 patients after thyroidectomy. METHODS: Dexamethasone 5 mg or saline 2 ml was IV administered in a randomized manner immediately after the induction of anesthesia in each group. Patients were assessed for the incidence of PONV at 6 h and 24 h after surgery, rescue antiemetics, total amount of analgesic, time to first analgesic demand, and VAS pain score at 6 h after surgery. The occurrence of side effects, such as, wound infection or delayed wound healing, and the duration of hospital stay were recorded. RESULTS: The incidence (21.1%, 8/38) of PONV in the dexamethasone group was significantly lower than (71.4%, 25/35) in the saline group during the 6 h postoperative period (P<0.05). PONV occurred in 7.9% of patients in the dexamethasone group and in 51.4% of patients in the saline group during the 6-24 h postoperative period. The proportion (7.9%) of patients requiring antiemetics was significantly lower in the dexamethasone group than in the saline group (25.7%) at 24 h postoperatively. The incidence of analgesic use, the total amount of analgesic and the VAS pain score were not significantly different in the two groups. No discernible side effects were found. CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone 5 mg was effective at preventing PONV after thyroidectomy, but it had no effect on postoperative pain.
