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. 2020 Oct 19;2020(10):CD012859. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012859.pub2

Kim 2007.

Study characteristics
Methods Study design: randomized controlled trial
Study grouping: 3 groups, monoprophylaxis
Participants Baseline characteristics
Placebo (group C)

  • Assessed for eligibility (n): ‐

  • Enrolled (n): ‐

  • Randomized (n): 50

  • Received treatment (n): NA

  • Analysed (n): 50

  • Age (mean ± SD, median (IQR), median (range)): 44.5 ± 1.9

  • Weight (mean ± SD, median (IQR), median (range)): 54.6 ± 0.6

  • BMI (mean ± SD, median (IQR), median (range)): NA

  • ASA I/II/III/IV (n): NA/NA/0/0

  • Gender (female in %): 100

  • Non‐smoker (%): 100

  • History of PONV/motion sickness (%): 0

  • Type of general anaesthesia: inhalational anaesthesia (isoflurane, N₂O)

  • Duration of anaesthesia or surgery (in min; as mean or median): 169.2

  • Use of perioperative opioids (if yes, which?): none

  • Type of surgery: thyroidectomy


Dexamethasone (group D)

  • Assessed for eligibility (n): ‐

  • Enrolled (n): ‐

  • Randomized (n): 50

  • Received treatment (n): NA

  • Analysed (n): 50

  • Age (mean ± SD, median (IQR), median (range)): 45.8 ± 1.7

  • Weight (mean ± SD, median (IQR), median (range)): 52.7 ± 0.5

  • BMI (mean ± SD, median (IQR), median (range)): NA

  • ASA I/II/III/IV (n): NA/NA/0/0

  • Gender (female in %): 100

  • Non‐smoker (%): 100

  • History of PONV/motion sickness (%): 0

  • Type of general anaesthesia: inhalational anaesthesia (isoflurane, N₂O)

  • Duration of anaesthesia or surgery (in min; as mean or median): 164.4

  • Use of perioperative opioids (if yes, which?): none

  • Type of surgery: thyroidectomy


Ramosetron (group R)

  • Assessed for eligibility (n): ‐

  • Enrolled (n): ‐

  • Randomized (n): 50

  • Received treatment (n): NA

  • Analysed (n): 50

  • Age (mean ± SD, median (IQR), median (range)): 44.5 ± 1.9

  • Weight (mean ± SD, median (IQR), median (range)): 53.6 ± 0.6

  • BMI (mean ± SD, median (IQR), median (range)): NA

  • ASA I/II/III/IV (n): NA/NA/0/0

  • Gender (female in %): 100

  • Non‐smoker (%): 100

  • History of PONV/motion sickness (%): 0

  • Type of general anaesthesia: inhalational anaesthesia (isoflurane, N₂O)

  • Duration of anaesthesia or surgery (in min; as mean or median): 169.2

  • Use of perioperative opioids (if yes, which?): none

  • Type of surgery: thyroidectomy


Included criteria: female, ASA I or II, underwent thyroidectomy under general anaesthesia
Excluded criteria: body mass index > 30; pregnancy; gastrointestinal disorders such as heart disease, respiratory disease, brain disease, kidney or liver abnormality, gastritis, gastric ulcer; history of PONV; smoking history; received antiemetics within 24 hours before surgery
Pretreatment: baseline characteristics (age, weight, ASA): no. Potential effect modifiers (gender, duration of anaesthesia, non‐smoker, history of PONV/motion sickness, perioperative opioids): no
Interventions Intervention characteristics
Placebo (group C)

  • Dose: saline

  • Time point of administration: after induction of anaesthesia

  • Route of administration: IV

  • Rescue antiemetics (if yes, which?): (52%) metoclopramide 10 mg IV


Dexamethasone (group D)

  • Dose: 0.15 mg/kg

  • Time point of administration: after induction of anaesthesia

  • Route of administration: IV

  • Rescue antiemetics (if yes, which?): (24%) metoclopramide 10 mg IV


Ramosetron (group R)

  • Dose: 6 µg/kg

  • Time point of administration: after induction of anaesthesia

  • Route of administration: IV

  • Rescue antiemetics (if yes, which?): (4%) metoclopramide 10 mg IV
Outcomes Vomiting (0 to 24 hours)

  • Outcome type: dichotomous outcome


Nausea (0 to 24 hours)

  • Outcome type: dichotomous outcome


Headache (0 to 48 hours)

  • Outcome type: dichotomous outcome


Adverse events (general notes in the publication, 48 hours' observation)

  • Outcome type: general notes on side effects
Identification Sponsorship source: NA
Country: South Korea
Setting: inpatient, single‐centre
Author's name: Kyung Hwa Kwak
Institution: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyungpook National University
Email: hwakkh@hotmail.com
Address: 50, Samdeok‐dong, Jung‐gu, Daegu, Postal Code: 700‐721
Duration of study: NA
Language: Korean (Google Translator)
Study's primary outcome: NA
Trial registry number: NA
Notes None
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Unclear risk Judgement comment: quote: "randomized". No further information on sequence generation provided
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Unclear risk Judgement comment: no statement
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes Low risk Judgement comment: quote: "in order to prevent the anaesthesiologist from knowing what type of medication will be administered" (translated)
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes Low risk Judgement comment: quote: "an anaesthesiologist who does not know the patient group investigated the occurrence of nausea and vomiting" (translated)
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes Low risk Judgement comment: no missing outcome data
Selective reporting (reporting bias) Unclear risk Judgement comment: no reference to a study protocol or trial registry number reported
Other bias Low risk Judgement comment: baseline characteristics (age, weight, ASA): no. Potential effect modifiers (gender, duration of anaesthesia, non‐smoker, history of PONV/motion sickness, perioperative opioids): no