Postoperative Vomiting after single dose of Injection Dexamethasone at the time of Induction of General Anesthesia

Abstract

Objective: To describe the effect of single dose of injection dexamethasone at the time of induction of general anesthesia on post operative vomiting within first 24 hour in Allied hospital Faislabad. Methodology:  This is hospital based prospective comparative study conducted from November 2007 to November 2008 at surgical unit III, Allied /DHQ Hospital Faisalabad. Two groups, cases and controls, were made. Injection dexamethasone was given to the cases group and injection normal saline was given to the controls group at the time of induction of general anaesthesia. The data was entered into a structured proforma separately. Number   of    episodes   of  vomiting  was recorded within 24 hour postoperatively in each group. Both groups were compared. Results:  A total of 90 patients were included in this study. Equal number of cases and control were taken (45 patients in each group). During the 24-Hour Postoperative observation period, 34% of patients in the dexamethasone group, compared with 63% of patients in the saline group, reported nausea and vomiting (p<0.001). Conclusion:        Injection dexamethasone given at the time of induction of general anesthesia significantly reduces the frequency of post operative vomiting.