EFFICACY OF TWO PROPHYLACTIC DRUGS (ONDANSETRON AND DEXAMETHASONE) FOR POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING AFTER ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHESIA

The current study was performed to compare the efficacy of two prophylactic drug regimens (ondansetron and dexamethasone) for postoperative nausea and vomiting following orthopedic surgery under general anaesthesia. The comparative study was carried out between January 2023 and January 2024. Included were all patients scheduled for upper limb orthopaedic surgery under general anaesthesia and aged between 20 and 60. All pregnant women taking cortisone or medication surgery, as well as those with renal or hepatic impairment, were not included. The individuals who would be undergoing main orthopaedic surgery were split into two groups, such as Group B (4 mg ondansetron) and Group A (8 mg dexamethasone). The incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting within the first 48 hours following surgery was the main result. SPSS 23 was utilized for data analysis. Throughout the study, 88 patients in total were investigated: 44 (or 50%) were examined in group A that received dexamethasone and 44 (or 50%) in group B that received ondansetron. Group A's mean weight (kg) was 23.9 ± 4.1 and its mean age was 35.4 ± 9.1 years. Group B had an average age of 45 ± 9.8 years and a mean weight of 24.1 ± 3.2 kg. It was shown that both medications were similarly efficient at reducing nausea in the majority of patients when the efficacy of both in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting was compared (73.85% vs. 91.5%; P = 0.000). The study concludes that ondansetron considerably outperformed dexamethasone in lowering the frequency of vomiting in individuals following surgery.