Effectiveness of sub hypnotic propofol and dexamethasone in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are distressful common side-effects following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) .The reported incidence of PONV is 46–72% in patients undergoing LC if prophylactic antiemetic is not given As an anesthetic agent, propofol is highly effective drug preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting , thus it has been used by a number of anesthesiologist.It was demonstrated that continuous infusion of sub hypnotic propofol prevents PONV in female patients receiving intravenous patient-controlled analgesia . Glucocorticoids have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating and antiemetic effects. But, their effect mechanisms are not fully clarified . Dexamethasone, as an glucocorticoid, has been used as an antiemetic drug in patients receiving chemotherapy for more than 25 years .Several prospective studies have shown that severity of PONV associated with LC is reduced by dexamethasone. The primary aim of this prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone and continuous infusion of sub hypnotic propofol to prevent PONV in patients undergoing LC. Secondary aim of this study was to determine the rescue antiemetic and analgesic in the first 24 hours after LC.