Effect of dexamethasone on preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting related to epidural morphine analgesia

Objective To estimate the effect of dexamethasone (Dex) intravenous injection on preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting related toepidural morphine analgesia.Methods 120 patients requring postoperative analgesia with epidural morphine were randomized into two groups.Dexamethasone 10mg(Dex group n=60) or saline (control group n=60) was administed i.v.at the end of the surgery.Results The total incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting 14.81% in Dex group druing 48 hours after surgery and it was 18.96%in control group(P0.05).Conclusion The effect of Dexamethasone intruvenous injection on preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting related to epidural morphine analgesia is not obvious,but it is effective to treat postoperative nausea and vomiting.