Differences in Dosing of Dexamethasone and the Effect on Post-Operative Emesis in Healthy Surgical Patients

Background and Review of Literature: Post-operative nausea and vomiting remains a constant threat to patients undergoing anesthesia. As such a myriad of drug compounds are utilized in the practice of anesthesia to prevent and thwart the unpleasant experience of post-operative nausea and vomiting. Although there has been agreement on the drug compounds that can successfully prevent such outcomes, little consensus has been developed for certain compounds, specifically dexamethasone. Purpose: To determine differences in efficacy in the prevention of post-operative emesis based on dosing of dexamethasone. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 10 healthy patients receiving > 0.1mg/kg of dexamethasone and 10 healthy patients receiving < 0.1mg/kg of dexamethasone at the induction of anesthesia. An evaluation of emesis in the post-operative period was evaluated. Microsoft Excel and Stat Crunch were used to analyze the data. Conclusion: A comparison of the group receiving <0.1 mg/kg and > 0.1 mg/kg of dexamethasone yielded no statistical difference in the ability to prevent postoperative emesis between the two groups.

Creator

• Miller, Austin

Language

• English

Keyword

• Post-operative nausea and vomiting
• Anesthesia
• Dexamethasone

Date created

• 2022

Resource type

• Research Paper

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/