The influence of a prophyla ctic dose of dexamethasone for postoperative nausea and vomiting on plasma interleukin concentrations after laparoscopic cholecystectomy A prospective randomised trial

RESULTS Areas under the curve of the percentage variation of interleukins 6 and 8 were significantly lower in the dexamethasone group. There were no significant differences between groups in the areas under the curve for tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukins 1b, 10 and 13. The greatest variation in interleukin concentrations was 2 h postoperatively, when the concentration of interleukin 6 was greater in the control group, whereas the concentration of interleukin 10 was higher in the dexamethasone group. Twenty-four hours after surgery, only the concentration of interleukin 6 remained significantly increased in both groups (P1⁄40.001 and P1⁄40.002, respectively). There were no significant differences between groups in respect of postoperative nausea and vomiting.