Comparison of Three Different Doses of Dexamethasone Added to Midazolam for Prophylaxis against Nausea and Vomiting after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy during Early Postoperative Period

Abstract

Abstract Background General anesthesia using volatile anesthetics is associated with high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting ranging between 20% - 30% within 24 hours after surgery. Postoperative nausea and vomiting is thought to be of multifactorial etiology involving anesthetics, surgical and individual factors. Objective To compare between three different doses of Dexamethasone in conjunction with predetermined fixed dose of Midazolam which can provide effective prophylaxis against postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients and Methods 1ry outcome was to decrease nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 2ry outcome was itching and dizziness. The present study was conducted in Ain shams University hospitals on 120 adult female patients aged 21 to 60 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I or II scheduled to an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. After obtaining approval from the research ethical committee of faculty of medicine of Ain Shams University, a written informed consent was obtained from every patient after explaining the procedure. Results Over 24 h, the incidence of nausea, vomiting and rescue antiemtic use reduced significantly in Group ІІ and Group ІІІ when compared to group І. As with incidence, the severity of nausea was even significantly reduced in the group ІІ and group ІІІ group (P 0.043 and 0.009) respectively compared to group І in 24 hours postoperative. Postoperative pain was assessed for initial 6 h. Group ІІ and group ІІІ had significant reduction in severity of pain (P < 0.016 and 0.006) respectively when compared to group І while there was no significant difference between group ІІ and group ІІІ. Moreover, the incidence of use of rescue analgesia significantly reduced from 82.5% in group І to 52.5% and 45% in group ІІ and group ІІІ, respectively. However, dose of rescue analgesia used in 6 h was significantly reduced in Group ІІІ only (P = 0.013). Conclusion The minimum effective dose for prevention of postoperative nausea is 4 mg of Dexamethasone in combination with Midazolam in female patients undergoing Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with additional advantage of analgesia in the early postoperative period. Further reduction in incidence and severity of PONV can be achieved with a dose of 8 mg dexamethasone.