A Comparative Study of Single Dose Dexamethasone versus Ondansetron for control of Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting after High-Risk Surgeries

The occurrence of postoperative nausea andvomiting is generally associated with anesthesia and surgery.The problem is compounded in cases of high-risk surgerieswhere the incidence is quite high. The present study wasdesigned to compare the efficacy of Dexamethasone andOndansetron. Methods: This study was undertaken at thePrathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Naganoor, Karimnagar.In this randomized, open clinical trial, we studied 80 ASA gradesI to 1V patients of age group 20-60 years undergoingLaparoscopic Laparotomy, Major Gynecological surgeries,Renal, Shoulder and ENT surgeries under general anesthesia.The patients were randomly divided into two groups, Group Iand Group II, each consisting of 80 patients. Group I received4mg dexamethasone intravenous (IV) just after intubation andgroup II received 4mg Ondansetron intravenous (IV), just beforeextubation. Results: The most common age group was 50 – 59years which had n=45(28.1%) patients out of which group Iwas n=24(15%) patients and n=21(13.1%) patients. The nextcommon age group was 20 – 29 years out of which n=23(14.4%) and n=18(11.2%). ondansetron group, early nausea ismild in 6.9%, moderate in 3.8%, and severe in 1.2% of patients.Whereas in the dexamethasone group early nausea is mild in6.2%, moderate in 4.4%, severe in 1.9% of patients. In theondansetron group, late nausea is mild in 9.4%, moderate in3.8%, and severe in 0.6% of patients. Whereas in thedexamethasone group late nausea is mild in 7.5%, moderatein 4.4%, severe in 0.6% of patients. In the ondansetron group,early vomiting is mild in 5.0%, moderate in 0.6%, and severe in0.6% of patients. Whereas in the dexamethasone group earlyvomiting is mild in 4.4%, moderate in 1.2%, severe in 0.6% ofpatients. Conclusion: dexamethasone given intravenously justafter intubation and ondansetron given intravenously justbefore extubation are safe and have similar efficacy in postoperative nausea and vomiting after elective surgeries undergeneral anesthesia having a high risk of PONV