Skip to content

Prophylactic Dimenhydrinate for Intraoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Prophylactic Dimenhydrinate for Intraoperative Nausea and Vomiting: A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00791960
Enrollment
149
Registered
2008-11-17
Start date
2008-11-30
Completion date
2009-09-30
Last updated
2010-03-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Nausea, Vomiting

Keywords

Cesarean Section, Dimenhydrinate, Gravol, Antiemetics

Brief summary

The purpose of this study will be to determine whether an intravenous dose of dimenhydrinate (also known as Gravol), given before the induction of spinal anesthesia, will decrease the incidence of intraoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing Cesarean delivery. This medication is commonly given during and after the surgery if required, but it is not known whether a preventative dose will decrease the overall incidence of these side effects.

Detailed description

Nausea and vomiting remain one of the most common complications of Cesarean delivery. The results of this study will show whether or not we can improve our present anesthesia regimen, and improve the satisfaction of patients undergoing Cesarean deliveries, by reducing the incidence of nausea and vomiting. Our current practice is not to use any medication for preventing nausea and vomiting unless required. However, nausea and vomiting come quite fast and unexpectedly during the operation, and most of the time the medication we give does not work fast enough. We are planning to study the anti-nausea medication dimenhydrinate (commonly known as Gravol), which has been safely and widely used during pregnancy, labour and Cesarean deliveries, hoping that its use will decrease the incidence of this unpleasant occurrence.

Interventions

OTHERPlacebo

single dose, 10 mL normal saline, IV

single dose, 25mg, IV, diluted in 9.5mL normal saline.

Sponsors

Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* All patients undergoing elective Cesarean deliveries under spinal anesthesia. * All patients who gave written informed consent to participate in this study. * ASA I and II patients. * Full term normal pregnancy.

Exclusion criteria

* All patients who refuse to give written informed consent. * All patients who claim allergy or hypersensitivity to dimenhydrinate. * Patients with history of vomiting within 24 hours prior to Cesarean delivery. * Patients with history of gastrointestinal or psychiatric diseases and morbid obesity * Patients receiving any of the following drugs within 24 hours before the study: opioids, antiemetics, H2 antagonists, phenothiazine and corticosteroids. * Patients with severe pregnancy induced hypertension

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Incidence of pre or post-delivery nausea as reported by the patient. Nausea will be defined as a subjectively unpleasant sensation associated with urge to vomit.2 hours

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Presence or absence of retching or vomiting.2 hours
Patient sedation as measured by the Ramsay sedation scale. This will be recorded preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively.2 hours
Type and amount of any rescue antiemetic medication used.2 hours
Newborn Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes, as well as any NICU admission.2 hours
Severity of nausea, assessed by visual analog scale (1-10)2 hours
Dose of opioid used as supplemental intravenous analgesia.2 hours
Number of episodes of hypotension.2 hours
Occurence of side effects: tachycardia, dizziness, restlessness, dry mouth, and desaturation.3 hours
Technique of uterine closure (exteriorization vs. in-situ repair).30 minutes

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026