• Jann Inn Tzeng, Chung Hsi Hsing, Chin Chen Chu, Ying Hui Chen, and Jhi Joung Wang.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Municipal Women's and Children's General Hospital, Kaohsiung.
• J Clin Anesth. 2002 Feb 1;14(1):19-23.

Study ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of a low dose of dexamethasone (5 mg) with metoclopramide 10 mg and saline in preventing nausea and vomiting after epidural morphine in posthysterectomy analgesia.DesignRandomized, placebo-controlled study.SettingInpatient surgery at Municipal Women's and Children's General Hospital.Patients120 ASA physical status I and II women receiving epidural morphine for posthysterectomy analgesia.InterventionsAll patients received epidural morphine 3 mg for postoperative analgesia. The dexamethasone group (n = 40) received dexamethasone 5 mg, the metoclopramide group (n = 40) received metoclopramide 10 mg, and the saline group (n = 40) received saline.Measurements And Main ResultsThe occurrence of nausea and vomiting appeared more frequently during 6 to 24 hours following the administration of epidural morphine. The total frequency of nausea and vomiting in the dexamethasone group was significantly lower than that of the metoclopramide and saline groups during this period, with reporting frequencies of 21%, 49%, and 53%, respectively (p <.05 each). However, the difference between metoclopramide and saline did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionsDexamethasone 5 mg was more effective than metoclopramide or saline in the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with epidural morphine for postoperative analgesia.

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