Comparison of efficacy of ondansetron and dexamethasone combination and ondansetron alone in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of ondansetron alone and combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone in preventing post-operative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS The randomised control trial was conducted from April 23 to August 22, 2009, at the Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, and comprised 100 American Society of Anaesthesiology I and II patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Half of the subjects comprised Group A and received ondansetron alone, while Group B received combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone. They were randomised by opaque envelope method. Group A received ondansetron 4 mg while Group B received ondansetron 4 mg with dexamethasone 8 mg, 1 minute before induction. Post-operatively patients were observed for six hours for any episode of nausea or vomiting, or whether the patients required any rescue anti emetic. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Patients receiving ondansetron alone showed 14 (28%) with incidence of nausea or vomiting while the other group showed 6 (12%). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.046). CONCLUSION Combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone was more efficacious compared to ondansetron alone in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.