Standardizing the Dosage and Timing of Dexamethasone for Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Prophylaxis at a Safety-Net Hospital System

Background

A single dose of dexamethasone is routinely given during general anesthesia for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prophylaxis, although the exact dosage and timing of administration may vary between practitioners. The authors aimed to standardize the dosage and timing of this medication when given to adult patients undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgery.

Methods

Baseline data for 7,483 preintervention cases were analyzed. The researchers attempted to use a standard dose of 8 to 10 mg induction of anesthesia, which, based on a literature review, was effective for PONV prophylaxis, had a similar safety profile as a 4 to 5 mg dose (including in diabetic patients), and may confer additional benefits such as improved prophylaxis and quality of recovery. The interventions included standardizing the medication concentration vials, altering electronic health record quick-select button options, simplifying the intraoperative charting process, and educating the anesthesia providers. The research team then tracked compliance with the standard of care for 2,167 cases after the interventions.

Results

Overall compliance with the standard of care increased from 21.2% preintervention to 53.7% postintervention. The number of patients not receiving dexamethasone was reduced from 29.7% to 19.4%. Patients receiving a compliant dose at a noncompliant time increased from 16.3% to 23.8%. Postanesthesia care unit antiemetic administration also decreased after the interventions.

Conclusion

This study showed improvements in compliance with the dosage of medication with the interventions. However, compliance with the timing of administration remains challenging.