Effect of ondansetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting under different conditions of general anesthesia: A preliminary, randomized, controlled study

• Published in: Upsala journal of medical sciences 2013-05, Vol.118 (2), p.87-90
• Main Authors: Zhang, Dengxin, Shen, Zhiyun, You, Jie, Zhu, Xiaolian, Tang, Qi-Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia, General - adverse effects; general anesthesia; Humans; Middle Aged; Nausea; ondansetron; Ondansetron - therapeutic use; Original; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting - prevention & control; Serotonin Antagonists - therapeutic use; Vomiting
• ISSN: 0300-9734; 2000-1967
• DOI: 10.3109/03009734.2013.768315

Abstract Methods. Two hundred and forty patients were randomly allocated into six groups: Group I, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane; Group II, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and 8 mg of ondansetron; Group III, anesthesia was maintained with propofol; Group IV, anesthesia was maintained with propofol and 8 mg of ondansetron; Group V, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and propofol; Group VI, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane combined with propofol and 8 mg of ondansetron. Results. We found that the incidence of vomiting was lower in group II (17.5%), group IV (7.5%), and group VI (10%) compared with group I (55%), group III (27.5%), and group V (30%), respectively (P < 0.05). The incidence of vomiting was also lower in group III (27.5%) and group V (30%) when compared with group I (55%) (P < 0.05). The incidence of nausea was 55% in group I, 42.5% in group II, 30% in group III, 27.5% in group IV, 30% in group V, and 30% in group VI. Groups III and V had a lower incidence of nausea than group I (P < 0.05). Conclusions. We conclude that compared with sevoflurane anesthesia alone, anesthesia with either propofol alone or propofol combined with sevoflurane resulted in a reduced incidence of vomiting and nausea during the first 24 h after surgery. Administration of ondansetron effectively reduced the incidence of vomiting but not that of nausea for all three types of general anesthesia.