Dexamethasone prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting more effectively in women with motion sickness

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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the antiemetic effect of iv dexamethasone for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in women with and without a history of motion sickness. Methods: This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was carried out in 168 female patients with (n = 84) and without (n = 84) a history of motion sickness undergoing gynecological laparoscopy. Patients received 8 mg dexamethasone or saline immediately before induction of anesthesia. Postoperatively patients were assessed for 24 hr for nausea, vomiting, and complete response (no vomiting, no need for rescue antiemetics). Results: The complete response for patients with a history of motion sickness was 80.5% and 37.5% for recipients of dexamethasone and saline, respectively [P < 0.001; number needed-to-treat (NNT) = 2.3]; with corresponding incidences of 83.3% and 53.7% when there was no such history (P = 0.009; NNT = 3.4). Calculation of the efficacy of dexamethasone for the different subgroups shows that dexamethasone was 45.3% more effective in patients with motion sickness than in those without it. Conclusions: Prophylactic administration of dexamethasone is effective in reducing PONV in patients with and without a history of motion sickness. The results of this study were more favourable in patients with a history of motion sickness, demonstrating a higher effectiveness of dexamethasone for preventing PONV in this subgroup of patients.

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Lee, Y., Lai, H. Y., Lin, P. C., Huang, S. J., & Lin, Y. S. (2003). Dexamethasone prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting more effectively in women with motion sickness. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, 50(3), 232–237. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03017790

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