The effect of dexamethasone on reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting following tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations in children. This operation is associated with complications such as nausea and vomiting, pain and dysphagia postoperatively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single dose of dexamethasone on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). In this double-blinded study, 130 patients who had referred to Imam Reza hospital-affiliated to BUMS- for tonsillectomy were randomly divided into case and control groups. The case group was administered dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg (Maximum dose 25 mg) IV preoperatively. The control group received an equivalent volume of saline preoperatively. Then, the incidence of PONV, time of first oral intake and time of recovery were compared in both groups were compared. The obtained data were statistically analysed at the significant level P≤0.05 by means of statistical software’s SPSS and Chi-square test. Compared with placebo (Saline), dexamethasone significantly decreased the incidence of PONV (P=0.048). The time of first oral intake was shorter (P=0.003) but the time of recovery was not different (P=0.159). Preoperative dexamethasone reduces both PONV and the time of first oral intake without any effect on recovery time.