A randomized double blinded controlled study to compare the use of dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone intraoperatively to prevent post operative nausea and vomiting.

ABSTRACT Objective: Comparison of incidence of PONV between two groups of patients by verbal rating scale for nausea and by simple questioning. And secondary to the primary study to see the haemodynamic stability in dexmedetomidine group in the introperative period. As well as the comparision requirement of analgesia between the two groups of patient introperatively. Material and Methods: Present study was hospital based randomized, observer blinded, interventional study conducted in patients of age group of 18-60 years, ASA grade1/2, undergoing operation under general anaesthesia. 130 patients were divided into two groups 65 patients in each group. Group A (receiving dexmedetomidine infusion after induction) Group B (receiving single dose of dexamethasone). Results: The age, gender , duration of surgery, duration of analgesia between the two groups had no statistical significance. The heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure values at intubation and post intubation were comparable in both the groups. There was significant decrease in heart rate in group A. The requirement of fentanyl in group A was lower than in group B. Even the requirement of rescue anti-emetic was less in group A than in group B. But the decrease of vomiting in both the groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine has an effect similar to that of dexamethasone in reducing the incidence and severity of PONV and no significant difference was observed between the groups but rescue antiemetic was significantly lower in Group dexmedetomidine compared to Group dexamethasone. And the requirement of fentanyl is less in the dexmedetomidine group as compared to the dexamethasone group