Administering dextrose, a form of glucose, to patients immediately after surgery decreases the risk of post-operative nausea and vomiting, according to a study presented this week at the American Society of Anesthesiologists' annual meeting.
All 56 patients in the study underwent either gynecological laparoscopic or hysteroscopic procedures under general anesthesia, and all were given an antiemetic. The half that received dextrose immediately after their surgeries had a significantly lower risk of PONV and were discharged from the PACU more quickly than the other half, who received a placebo.
"In light of the ease and low risk of administration of dextrose post-operatively and its apparent benefit to patient care and satisfaction, this therapeutic treatment should be considered in an attempt to prevent or reduce [PONV] in the immediate recovery period, " said study author Susan Dabu-Bondoc, MD, of the Yale School of Medicine. She added that more studies were needed to determine why dextrose helps prevent PONV.
Irene Tsikitas
