Effects of perioperative dextrose infusion on preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically examine the literature and assess the effects of perioperative dextrose infusion on the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients following laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Studies were eligible for inclusion if they evaluated the prevention of PONV with perioperative intravenous dextrose. Studies listed in PUBMED, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases published up to December 2020 were identified. Data were extracted and analyzed independently using a fixed-effects or random-effects model according to the heterogeneity. RESULTS: Six RCTs involving 526 patients were included. Our results showed that perioperative dextrose infusion not only reduced the incidence of PONV (risk ratio [RR] = 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39–0.95; I(2) = 59%) but also decreased the requirement for antiemetics compared with the control (RR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.42–0.66; I(2) = 32%). Furthermore, perioperative glucose infusion did not increase blood glucose levels compared with the control (mean difference [95% CI] = 74.55 [−20.64 to 169.73] mg/dL; I(2) = 100%). CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that perioperative dextrose infusion may reduce the risk of PONV after laparoscopic surgery. However, additional population-based RCTs are needed to confirm this finding.