A comparison of dosing regimens of the anti-emetic dexamethasone for the prophylaxis treatment of post-operative nausea and vomiting

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is an undesirable postoperative complication. PONV occurs in approximately 20-30% of the general surgical population,1 and can increase to 80% in high risk patients. 2 Risk factors include age, obesity, non-smoking, female gender, history of motion sickness, opioids for postoperative pain control, and type of surgical procedure.5;This study compared dosing regimens utilizing the anti-emetic adjunct dexamethasone for the prophylaxis of post-operative nausea and vomiting. Ninety patients that met inclusion criteria were randomly placed into one of three treatment groups. Group A received intravenous doses of 4 mg of ondansetron, group B received intravenous doses of 4 mg of ondansetron and 5 mg of dexamethasone, and Group C received intravenous doses of 4 mg of ondansetron and 10 mg of dexamethasone. Patients were evaluated and data recorded at three time intervals, upon admission to the Post-Anesthesia Care Units (PACU), upon discharge from the PACU and within 24 hours post surgical procedure.;The results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence or severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting among the three groups.;(Key Words: postoperative nausea and vomiting, ondansetron, dexamethasone)...