Effect of Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine Infusion on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy under General Anaesthesia

Background-Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is the most frequently encountered complication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The evidence regarding the effect of dexmedetomidine in decreasing PONV is insufficient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine infusion as an adjuvant to general anaesthesia on PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods- One hundred twenty ASA grade 1& 2 adult patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly allocated to receive either dexmedetomidine infusion 0.5 mcg/kg/hr (groupA-n=60) or normal saline infusion (groupB-n=60). The incidence and severity of PONV were assessed during first 24 hours postoperatively. The need for postoperative rescue antiemetic was also recorded. Results- The demographic profile of patients were comparable in both groups. VRS score of nausea (1.20.9) was significantly less in group A, as compared to group B (6.71.7), (3.11.2). Moreover the number of episodes of vomiting and retching were significantly reduced in group A as compared to group B, p value (0.0096), (0.0033) respectively. Twenty one percent of patients in group A and fifty eight percent patients in group B required rescue antiemetic in postoperative period. Conclusion-Dexmedetomidine infusion when used as an adjuvant to general anaesthesia reduces the incidence and severity of PONV during first 24 hours after laparoscopic cholecystectomy