Effect of 4mg Dexamethasone for Prevention of Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting in Laparoscopic Surgeries

Background: Laparoscopy was first introduced as a therapeutic alternative to laparotomy more than a century ago. Since then, the field of laparoscopic surgery has undergone enormous development and expansion, to the point where it is now the standard treatment for a wide range of surgical procedures, including cholecystectomy, appendicectomy, gynecologic surgeries, bariatric surgery, hernia repair and even complex oncologic operations. However, laparoscopic surgeries are associated with high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) of 40%-80%. A number of drugs have been used for its prevention. Dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid, having an antiemetic effect along with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect has been shown to reduce the incidence of PONV. However, the optimal dose for reducing PONV has not been clearly defined. In this study, we aim to study 4mg dose of dexamethasone on incidence of PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Methods: A double blind randomized controlled study was performed on 70 patients posted for elective laparoscopic surgeries under general anesthesia to assess the efficacy of 4mg dose of dexamethasone in preventing PONV. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups: 4mg dexamethasone (1ml) and 1ml normal saline group. The incidence of nausea, vomiting and the need for anti-emetic were evaluated during first 24 postoperative hours. Results: Patients who received IV dexamethasone 4mg had significant reduction of PONV (P