The effect of dexamethasone on controlling nausea and vomiting after cesarean surgery

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common challenge in cesarean surgeries, on the other hand, the use of dexamethasone has been proposed as an effective prophylaxis in the management of these complications. This study evaluated the effect of dexamethasone in reducing PONV. Methods: This study was conducted as a randomized and double-blind clinical trial from April 2022 to September 2023 at Razi Hospital of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz. Elective cesarean section patients under spinal anesthesia were divided into two groups of 30 people. In this research, there were two groups: a group that received 0.1 mg/kg dexamethasone (Iran company) and a placebo group that received normal saline. The injections were done before the start of anesthesia, and both groups had received 500 cc of normal saline serum before drug injection. During the surgery and after that at specific time intervals, parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, and the occurrence of nausea and vomiting were recorded through the V&N scoring table and shivering through the shivering scoring table. Recorded 1/2/4/6/12 after surgery. Results: In this study the investigated variable is postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), since the investigated variable is a qualitative/nominal variable, to calculate the sample size from the formula P1- P2 ∕√P(1-P) used. The significance level of the tests is considered to be less than 0.05 and data analysis was done with SPSS type 23 software. Although no significant difference was observed between dexamethasone and placebo in the first hour after the operation, in the following hours, dexamethasone significantly reduced nausea and vomiting, on the other hand, heart rate and blood pressure decreased faster in the groups receiving dexamethasone. Conclusion: Dexamethasone is significantly effective in reducing nausea and vomiting after cesarean surgery. It also has a positive role in reducing the heart rate and blood pressure and This drug is particularly effective in controlling complications after spinal anesthesia after the operation.