Comparison of the Effect of Ginger and Metoclopramide in Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting after Cholecystectomy

Nausea and vomiting are common and troublesome complication after the surgery. Although several medications as prophylactic or therapeutic are used in relation to this problem, but neither of them could not completely suppress and have numerous side effects. This study was performed to compare the prophylactic efficacy of ginger and metoclopramide in reducing nausea and vomiting after cholecystectomy.
90 patients undergoing cholecystectomy that met the inclusion criteria were divided randomly into two groups (n = 45). Before starting the operation, first group received ginger and the second group received metoclopramide. Thereafter, the severity and duration of nausea and vomiting after first and second hour of surgery was measured via visiting and self-designed questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chi-square test via SPSS20 software at the significant level of P Findings: The two groups were not significantly different in terms of age (P = 0.18), weight (P = 0.07) and gender (P = 0.82). The two groups were divided into two subgroups of less or equal to 60 years of age [33 (55%) and 27 members (45%) in ginger and metoclopramide groups, respectively) and more than 60 years of age [12 members (40%) in ginger and 18 members (60%) in metoclopramide group). In terms of body weight, the two groups were divided into three subgroups of less than 70 kg [6 (85.7%) and 1 patient (14.3%) in ginger and metoclopramide groups, respectively], 70 to 90 kg [36 (45.6%) and 43 patients (54.4%) in ginger and metoclopramide groups, respectively] and more than 90 kg [3 (75%) and 1 patient (25%) in ginger and metoclopramide groups, respectively]. In terms of gender, patients were divided into two subgroups of men [28 (49.1%) and 29 patients (50.9%) in ginger and metoclopramide groups, respectively] and women [17 (51.5%) and 16 patients (48.5%) in ginger and metoclopramide groups, respectively]. The severity of nausea and vomiting at the first hours after the surgery in the group receiving ginger decreased more than the group who received metoclopramide.
Ginger reduced incidence of nausea and vomiting more than metoclopramide during the postoperative period. It can be used as a supportive treatment in the prevention of nausea and vomiting.