Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Medical‑Surgical Nursing, School of Nasibeh Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Educational Instructor of Nasibeh Nursing and Midwifery School, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran
2 Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pain and nausea and vomiting are of serious complications following the use of
opiates after surgery, especially cesarean section. Control of postoperative complications is one of
the necessities of quality promotion of health‑care system. Medications with few side effects such
as corticosteroids including dexamethasone can be an appropriate option. In addition, the route of
administration can have a significant effect on the effectiveness of the drug. The aim of the present
study was to compare the effects of intrathecal with intravenous dexamethasone in reducing the
complications associated with intrathecal morphine after cesarean section.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a double‑blind randomized controlled clinical trial and
determined the effect of intrathecal and intravenous dexamethasone on the incidence and severity
of complications of intrathecal morphine after cesarean section on 120 patients and its relationship
with serious complications after surgery. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to examine
the characteristics of the case and control groups, and STATA SPSS software was used to compare
the two groups.
RESULTS: There was no significant association between the two groups in terms of baseline
characteristics. Pain score in the intrathecal injection group was lower than the intravenous injection
group, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.02). In addition, there was a significant
association regarding to the incidence of nausea, vomiting, and itching between intrathecal and
intravenous injection groups (P = 0.008).
CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone was effective to reduce opiate complications after cesarean section.
Establishing a suitable association between dexamethasone half‑life, efficacy, type of use, and time
of use can result the best outcomes and promote patients’ satisfaction in cesarean section.
Keywords
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