Koilada Shiv Kumar1, Rajan Anand2, Debasis Bagchi3
BACKGROUND
Postoperative nausea and vomiting are highly prevalent after ophthalmic surgeries
in the paediatric age group. In this randomised, double-blind prospective clinical
trial, we studied and compared the efficacy of granisetron and combination of
granisetron with dexamethasone to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting
after paediatric ocular surgeries.
METHODS
Sixty paediatric patients (06 - 12 yrs. of age) undergoing elective ocular surgeries
were randomly allocated to one of the two groups of 30 patients each. Group (G)
received granisetron 40 mcg kg–1 intravenously as a bolus before induction of
anaesthesia. Group (G + d) received granisetron 40 mcg kg–1 & dexamethasone
0.1 mg kg–1 intravenously as a bolus before induction. Student t-test, Fisher exact
test were used wherever applicable for statistical analysis using SPSS version 15.0.
RESULTS
A complete response (defined as no post-operative nausea and vomiting and no
need for another rescue antiemetic) was achieved in 63.3 % of patients who
received granisetron alone and in 96.7 % of patients who received granisetron
plus dexamethasone. We found nil difference in complications between the two
groups.
CONCLUSIONS
We found that addition of dexamethasone to granisetron is more effective and
beneficial than granisetron alone in preventing postoperative emesis in 1st 24
hours.
