Korean J Anesthesiol.  1999 Mar;36(3):469-473. 10.4097/kjae.1999.36.3.469.

The Effect of Dexamethasone Combined with Ondansetron on Antiemesis and Analgesia during Postoperative Patient Controlled Analgesia

• Kim DH

• KMID: 2032291
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1999.36.3.469

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ondansetron plus dexamethasone versus ondansetron alone in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting for the patient using a patient controlled analgesia (PCA).
METHODS
Of sixty women having general anesthesia for total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), thirty received intravenous ondansetron 4 mg plus 150 microgram/kg of dexamethasone (Group 1) and thirty received intravenous ondansetron 4 mg plus saline 2 ml (Group 2) after awakening. Butorphanol 10 mg, ketorolac 180 mg and ondansetron 4 mg were connected to PCA pump for postoperative pain control. The severity of nausea, vomiting and pain were assessed at 0, 1, 2, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hr after awakening.
RESULTS
Nausea and vomiting occurred in 5 patients in Group 1 and in 4 patients in Group 2. There were no significant differences between groups in nausea, vomiting and pain scores.
CONCLUSIONS
The combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone is not more effective than ondansetron alone in prevention of postoperative nausea, vomiting and pain for women having PCA following TAH.

Keyword

Analgesia, patient-controlled (PCA); Antiemetics, ondansetron, dexamethasone; Complications, nausea, vomiting

MeSH Terms

Analgesia*
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled*
Anesthesia, General
Butorphanol
Dexamethasone*
Female
Humans
Hysterectomy
Ketorolac
Nausea
Ondansetron*
Pain, Postoperative
Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Vomiting
Butorphanol
Dexamethasone
Ketorolac
Ondansetron