A comparative study of efficacy and safety of ondansetron, glycopyrrolate and dexamethasone for post operative nausea and vomiting following general aneasthesia

Abstract

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common distressing problem in patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia which requires frequent medical interventions. This was a prospective, randomized study conducted in Victoria hospital, Bengaluru. Study subjects were randomly assigned into four groups of twenty patients in each. Group A received inj. Ondansetron 8 mg i.v, Group B received inj Glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg i.v, Group C received inj Dexamethasone 10 mg i.v and Group D received 1ml normal saline i.v, just before induction of anaesthesia with inj fentanyl and inj propofol. Number of patients having nausea & vomiting was assessed for 24 hrs after surgery. Out of eighty patients 47 (58.7%) patients had nausea and vomiting in the postoperative period. Six (30%) patients in group A, eleven (55%) in group B, thirteen (65%) in group C and seventeen (85%) patients in group D. Use of rescue antiemetic was higher in normal saline group followed by dexamethasone group. Headache was reported as an adverse effect in less than 10% of the patients. Our study showed that prophylactic use of ondansetron is more effective for prevention of PONV with lesser requirement of rescue medication and fewer side effects, followed by glycopyrrolate and dexamethasone.