Randomized clinical trial of the effect of preoperative dexamethasone on nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: Preoperative dexamethasone may reduce disabling symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: This was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Between March and December 2004, 101 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to receive 8 mg dexamethasone (n = 49) or placebo (n = 52) intravenously before surgery. Six patients were excluded from the study. All patients received a standardized anaesthetic, surgical and multimodal analgesic treatment. The primary endpoints were: first, postoperative nausea, vomiting and pain; second, postoperative analgesic and antiemetic requirements. The pain scores (visual analogue and verbal response scales), the episodes of nausea (verbal response scale) and vomiting were recorded at 1, 3, 6 and 24 h, respectively, after the operation. Analgesic and antiemetic requirements were also recorded. Results: No apparent drug side‐effects were noted. Seven patients (14 per cent) in the treatment group reported nausea and vomiting compared with 24 (46 per cent) in the control group (P = 0·001). In the group of patients treated with dexamethasone, five (10 per cent) required antiemetics versus 23 (44 per cent) of those receiving placebo (P < 0·001). No difference in postoperative pain scores and analgesic requirements was detected between groups. Conclusion: Preoperative dexamethasone reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with no side‐effects, and may be recommended for routine use. Copyright © 2006 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Dexamethasone reduces nausea and vomiting