A Comparative Study of Single Dose Dexamethasone versus Ondansetron for control of Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting after High-Risk Surgeries

Abstract

The occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting is generally associated with anesthesia and surgery. The problem is compounded in cases of high-risk surgeries where the incidence is quite high. The present study was designed to compare the efficacy of Dexamethasone and Ondansetron. Methods: This study was undertaken at the Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Naganoor, Karimnagar. In this randomized, open clinical trial, we studied 80 ASA grades I to 1V patients of age group 20-60 years undergoing Laparoscopic Laparotomy, Major Gynecological surgeries, Renal, Shoulder and ENT surgeries under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, Group I and Group II, each consisting of 80 patients. Group I received 4mg dexamethasone intravenous (IV) just after intubation and group II received 4mg Ondansetron intravenous (IV), just before extubation. Results: The most common age group was 50 – 59 years which had n=45(28.1%) patients out of which group I was n=24(15%) patients and n=21(13.1%) patients. The next common age group was 20 – 29 years out of which n=23 (14.4%) and n=18(11.2%). ondansetron group, early nausea is mild in 6.9%, moderate in 3.8%, and severe in 1.2% of patients. Whereas in the dexamethasone group early nausea is mild in 6.2%, moderate in 4.4%, severe in 1.9% of patients. In the ondansetron group, late nausea is mild in 9.4%, moderate in 3.8%, and severe in 0.6% of patients. Whereas in the dexamethasone group late nausea is mild in 7.5%, moderate in 4.4%, severe in 0.6% of patients. In the ondansetron group, early vomiting is mild in 5.0%, moderate in 0.6%, and severe in 0.6% of patients. Whereas in the dexamethasone group early vomiting is mild in 4.4%, moderate in 1.2%, severe in 0.6% of patients. Conclusion: dexamethasone given intravenously just after intubation and ondansetron given intravenously just before extubation are safe and have similar efficacy in postoperative nausea and vomiting after elective surgeries under general anesthesia having a high risk of PONV