Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains a common and distressing complication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy despite advances in anesthesia. Both dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone have shown antiemetic properties, but their comparative effectiveness is still debated. To compare the efficacy of dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone in preventing PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
This double-blind randomized controlled trial included 68 ASA I-II patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either intravenous dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) or dexamethasone (8 mg) after induction of anesthesia. PONV was assessed using a standardized scoring system on arrival in the PACU and at 4, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Ondansetron was administered as rescue antiemetic when required.
This study aims to determine the more effective prophylactic agent for PONV, with the goal of improving postoperative comfort and quality of care in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery in the local population.