Comparison of Dexamethasone and Local Anaesthetic Infiltration in Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Tonsillectom

Authors

  • Muhammad Shahzad Bashir Department of Anesthesia, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Sana Abbas Department of Anesthesia, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Usman Saqib Department of Anesthesia, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Shakeel Ahmed Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Adeela Khan Department of Anesthesia, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Hareem Azhar Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v75i4.9181

Keywords:

Corticosteroids, Dexamethasone, Local infiltration, Nausea, Pain, Postoperative, Vomiting.

Abstract

Objective: Comparison of the effectiveness of intravenous Dexamethasone and pre-incision infiltration of local anesthetic among Pediatric tonsillectomy patients in reduction of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pain.

Study Design: Quasi-Experimental Study.

Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Jan to Jun 2022.

Methodology: Pediatric patients aged 04 to 13 years undergoing tonsillectomy under general anesthesia were enrolled in the study. Group-A was administered intravenous Dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg (up to 16 mg), and Group-B was administered a 24ml of local anesthesia as pre-incision infiltration.

Results: A total of 126 patients enrolled in the study, with equal distribution in each group.  In the post-anesthesia recovery unit, 10(15.9%) of patients in Group-A had vomiting, whereas 2(3.2%) in Group-B experienced vomiting (p-value 0.03). After 24 hours, the PONV frequency rose to 17(27.0%) and 6(9.5% respectively, in Group-A and Group-B (p-value 0.02), with compatible results at 48 hours, 3rd, 4th, and 5th day postoperatively. Group-A has shown higher consumption of postoperative analgesics in post post-anesthesia recovery unit and throughout from 1st to 5th day. 10(16.2%) and 21(32.8%) patients in Groups A and B, respectively, were able to drink during their PACU stay (p-value 0.05).

Conclusion: Local anesthetic infiltration is an effective modality for reduction of postoperative nausea and vomiting, along with analgesic potential in Pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy under general anesthesia.

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References

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Published

30-08-2025

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Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

1.
Bashir MS, Abbas S, Saqib U, Ahmed S, Khan A, Azhar H. Comparison of Dexamethasone and Local Anaesthetic Infiltration in Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Tonsillectom. Pak Armed Forces Med J [Internet]. 2025 Aug. 30 [cited 2025 Oct. 7];75(4):645-9. Available from: https://pafmj.org/PAFMJ/article/view/9181