Article

Dexamethasone is as effective as ondansetron for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting following breast surgery.

Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden.
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica (impact factor: 2.19). 09/2003; 47(7):823-7.
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Postoperative nausea and vomiting remain a common problem following breast surgery. This study assesses whether dexamethasone is as effective as ondansetron in the control of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).
Eighty ASA I-III patients undergoing breast surgery for carcinoma of the breast were included in the study. Following premedication with diazepam 5-10 mg, patients were induced with fentanyl 50 micro g and propofol 2-2.5 mg kg-1. A larynx mask was inserted and anesthesia maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen and nitrous oxide. Patients were then randomly divided into two groups: Group D (dexamethasone) was given 4 mg dexamethasone i.v. after induction and Group O (ondansetron) was given 4 mg ondansetron at the same time point. Postoperatively, nausea, vomiting and pain were recorded at 1-h intervals during 4 h, and thereafter every 4 h during 24 h.
The incidence of PONV during 24 h was 37% and 33% in Group D and Group O, respectively (NS). No differences were found between the groups in the incidence of postoperative nausea, vomiting or pain at the different time intervals. No differences were found in the incidence of PONV in smokers vs. non-smokers. No side-effects of these drugs were observed.
Ondansetron 4 mg or dexamethasone 4 mg are equally effective in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting following breast surgery. Other factors being similar, the difference in cost between these drugs would favor the use of dexamethasone instead of ondansetron when monotherapy against PONV is used.

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    Article: Preoperative dexamethasone reduces postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting following mastectomy for breast cancer.
    Jorge Gómez-Hernández, Alba Lorena Orozco-Alatorre, Marisela Domínguez-Contreras, Antonio Oceguera-Villanueva, Salvador Gómez-Romo, Andrea Socorro Alvarez Villaseñor, Clotilde Fuentes-Orozco, Alejandro González-Ojeda
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    ABSTRACT: Dexamethasone has been reported to reduce postoperative symptoms after different surgical procedures. We evaluated the efficacy of preoperative dexamethasone in ameliorating postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and pain after mastectomy. In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 70 patients scheduled for mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection were analyzed after randomization to treatment with 8 mg intravenous dexamethasone (n = 35) or placebo (n = 35). All patients underwent standardized procedures for general anesthesia and surgery. Episodes of PONV and pain score were recorded on a visual analogue scale. Analgesic and antiemetic requirements were also recorded. Demographic and medical variables were similar between groups. The incidence of PONV was lower in the dexamethasone group at the early postoperative evaluation (28.6% vs. 60%; p = 0.02) and at 6 h (17.2% vs. 45.8%; p = 0.03). More patients in the placebo group required additional antiemetic medication (21 vs. 8; p = 0.01). Dexamethasone treatment significantly reduced postoperative pain just after surgery (VAS score, 4.54 ± 1.55 vs. 5.83 ± 2.00; p = 0.004), at 6 h (3.03 ± 1.20 vs. 4.17 ± 1.24; p < 0.0005) and at 12 h (2.09 ± 0.85 vs. 2.54 ± 0.98; p = 0.04). Analgesics were required in more patients of the control group (21 vs. 10; p = 0.008). There were no adverse events, morbidity or mortality. Preoperative intravenous dexamethasone (8 mg) can significantly reduce the incidence of PONV and pain in patients undergoing mastectomy with axillary dissection for breast cancer. NCT01116713.
    BMC Cancer 01/2010; 10:692. · 3.01 Impact Factor
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Keywords

1-h intervals
 
4 mg dexamethasone i.v
 
4 mg ondansetron
 
dexamethasone
 
dexamethasone 4 mg
 
diazepam 5-10 mg
 
differences
 
different time intervals
 
drugs
 
fentanyl 50 micro g
 
Group D
 
induction
 
larynx mask
 
nausea
 
nitrous oxide
 
Ondansetron 4 mg
 
Postoperative nausea
 
side-effects
 
study assesses
 
time point
 

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