The effect of dexamethasone on post laparoscopic cholecystectomy nausea and vomiting

Abstract EN

Nausea and vomiting are of the main symptoms affecting patients following laparoscopic procedures with rates ranging between 5-45 % in ambulatory surgery cases, they may lead to adverse effects including patients’ demoralization, increased pain level and prolonged hospital stay and so increasing costs of health services.

This study determines the effects of preoperative dexamethasone on post laparoscopic cholecystectomy nausea and vomiting.

One hundred patients, admitted for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were divided into two groups.

One given dexamethasone intraoperative, the other received no drug.

Both groups received similar anesthetic, surgical and postoperative drug management.

The patients were followed in the first twenty-four hours for the development of nausea and vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting were significantly reduced in the group receiving dexamethasone on the day of operation with statistical significance.

So dexamethasone (8 mg) is recommended to be routinely given at the time of induction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, since it reduces nausea and frequency of vomiting post laparoscopic cholecystectomy.