The efficacy of ginger in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after major gynecologic surgery.

OBJECTIVE To study the efficacy of ginger in prevention of nausea and vomiting after major gynecologic surgery. STUDY DESIGN Double blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thammasat University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, 12120, Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD From March 2005 to April 2006, 120 patients who underwent major gynecologic surgery were randomized into group A (n = 60) and group B (n = 60). The patients in group A received two capsules of ginger taken one hour before the procedure (one capsule contains 0.5 gram of ginger powder). The patients in group B received the placebo. The visual analog nausea score (VANS) and frequency of vomiting were evaluated at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours after the operation. RESULTS The results demonstrated the statistically significant differences in nausea between group A (48.3%) and group B (66.7%). The VANS was lower in group A compared to group B at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours. The most statistically significant differences occurred at 2 and 6 hour. The incidence and frequency of vomiting in group A were lower than group B. Side effects caused by ginger were not detected. CONCLUSION Ginger has efficacy in prevention of nausea and vomiting after major gynecologic surgery.