The Effect of Preoperative Zintoma Capsule on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), as one of the complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, occurs in over 40% - 77% of cases. Considering the numerous complications of synthetic drugs, there is a growing tendency towards the use of herbal medicines due to their unique features. Ginger root is one of the herbal compounds effective on nausea and vomiting. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative Zintoma capsules on PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, 130 eligible patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 65) and control (n = 65) groups using the four-block method. The intervention group received two capsules of 500 mg and one of 250 mg Zintoma. The control group received three placebo capsules. The severity of patients’ PONV was recorded at 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery using a checklist and a standard VAS instrument. Data were analyzed using t-test, Chi-square test, and LSD Post Hoc test (ANOVA) in SPSS 19. RESULTS: The severity of PONV and vomiting was significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.001) at the above time points. The mean severity of nausea (by VAS) changed in the intervention group from 7.92 ± 1.28 to 0.33 ± 0.67 and in the control group from 8.00 ± 1.20 to 2.11 ± 1.55. The postoperative vomiting was less frequent in the group receiving the Zintoma capsules. The postoperative use of chemical anti-vomiting and nausea drugs was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the placebo group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Zintoma capsules can be used as a supportive treatment in the prevention of nausea and vomiting by reducing the incidence rate of PONV.