A DOUBLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF GINGER FOR THE PREVENTION OF POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING

The efficacy of ginger for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting was studied in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial i n 108 ASA 1 or 2 patients undergoing gynaecological laparoscopic surge ry under general anaesthesia. Patients received oral placebo ginger BP 0.5g or ginger BP 1.0g, ah with oral diazepam premedication, one hour prior to surgery. Patients were assessed at three hours postoperative ly. The incidence of nausea and vomiting increased slightly but nonsig nificantly with increasing dose of ginger. The incidence of moderate o r severe nausea was 22, 33 and 36%, while the incidence of vomiting wa s 17, 14 and 31% in groups receiving 0, 0.5 and 1.0g ginger, respectiv ely (odds ratio per 0.5g ginger 1.39 for nausea and 1.55 for vomiting) . These results were essentially unchanged when adjustment was made fo r concomitant risk factors. We conclude that ginger BP in doses of 0.5 or 1.0 gram is ineffective in reducing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.