The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Dexamethasone versus standard treatment for postoperative nausea and vomiting in gastrointestinal surgery. BMJ 2017; 357: j1455.

Published: 14th June 2017

Authors: DREAMS trial Collaborators, West Midlands research Collaborative

Conclusion

This study was included 1350 patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery randomized to a single dose of 8mg dexamethasone at anaesthetic induction, or standard care. The addition of dexamethasone reduced the rate of vomiting during the next 24h from 33 to 25.5 per cent (P=0.003), number needed to treat=13.

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