Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of Ondansetron, Metoclopramide and Low Dose Dexamethasone to Prevent Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Females who Undergo Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

= 32). The patients were assessed for incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting at intervals of 0-1, 1-6, and 6-24 hours after extubation. Results: The incidence of nausea was as follows among patients: 72 (20.8%) in the ondansetron group, 23.6% in the dexamethasone group, 25.0% in the metoclopramide group, and 30.5% in the control group. Vomiting was found in 49 patients with an incidence rate of 8.1%, 16.3%, 36.7% and 38.7%, in ondansetron, dexamethasone and metoclopramid groups, respectively. The highest incidence of the initial nausea symptom occurred at the 1-6 hour interval in all groups (P = 0.034). Only ondansetron (P = 0.005) and dexamethasone (P = 0.019) were effective in preventing nausea at the 0-1 hour interval. The severity of nausea in patients who received dexamethasone was less. Conclusions: Ondansetron was more effective than dexamethasone and metoclopramide in preventing vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy at intervals of 0-1 and 1-6 hours. Ondansetron delayed the interval of the first onset of nausea and vomiting.