The Prophylactic Effect of Dexamethasone on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Women Undergoing Thyroidectomy

Abstract

We compared the prophylactic administration of dexamethasone to prevent nausea and vomiting with droperidol and saline in women undergoing thyroidectomy. Both dexamethasone and droperidol significantly reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting, but droperidol produced more side effects, which suggests that dexamethasone is a useful treatment in these patients.

RETRACTED: Reduction of postoperative emetic episodes and analgesic requirements with dexamethasone in patients scheduled for dental surgery

“…Recently, dexamethasone has been found to have a prophylactic effect on PONV in patients undergoing gynecological surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, thyroidectomy, and pediatric tonsillectomy [9][10][11][12]. In a quantitative systematic review by Henzi et al [13], the commonly used doses are 8 to 10 mg for adults and 1 to 1.5 mg kg À1 for children.…”

Prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after intrathecal morphine for cesarean section: a randomized comparison of dexamethasone, droperidol, and a combination

“…Although previous studies have found dexamethasone to be an effective antiemetic after general anesthesia or epidural morphine, 3,4,6 we and other investigators have found it to be ineffective after intrathecal morphine 14 and neostigmine. 15 It may be that PONV produced by higher doses of morphine, as used epidurally, can be more readily reversed by any antiemetic than can PONV after an intrathecal dose.…”

“…1,2 Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid with proven antiemetic efficacy after single-dose administration in chemotherapy and to control PONV associated with general anesthesia, [3][4][5] is one of a number of antiemetic agents available for PONV after cesarean section. Effectiveness has also been demonstrated for reducing this unpleasant side effect in women receiving epidural morphine for pelvic surgery, including cesarean section.…”

“…The recommended dose of droperidol for preventing PONV is 1.25 mg, 10 but this dose is still associated with side effects such as drowsiness and restlessness. 4,6,9,10 To avoid side effects of droperidol, doses lower than 1.25 mg should be used.…”

Comparison of dexamethasone, metoclopramide, and their combination in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

“…As mentioned before, dexamethasone is a corticostereoid with an anti-inflammatory effect that provides postoperative analgesia [8], prevents nausea and vomiting in patients receiving highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy [1,15], and reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting [8,27,30]. The recommended dose in the prevention of PONV is 8-10 mg.…”