title: Anti-emetic efficacy of tropisetron and metoclopramide.
abstract: Post-operative vomiting, especially in ambulatory surgical patients, remains a troublesome problem. This placebo-controlled, randomized, prospective double-blind trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of two prophylactic anti-emetic regimens on post-operative vomiting in 1-day thyroid surgery. Altogether 60 elective surgical patients were followed for 4 h post-operatively. All patients were American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I or II and aged between 22 and 60 years: group 1 was saline control; in groups 2 and 3, metoclopramide (0.2 mg/kg) or tropisetron (5 mg) was administered, respectively, as an intravenous single dose during induction. Patients were pre-medicated. A standardized anaesthetic technique consisting of thiopentone-succinylcholine for induction and fentanyl-nitrous oxide-halothane-pancuronium for maintenance of anaesthesia was used. A 'rescue' anti-emetic was provided in case of continued vomiting or at the patient's request. Anti-emetic inefficacy was defined as request for rescue anti-emetic and/or vomiting episode during the first 4 h post-operation. The number of patients vomiting was 12/20 (60%), 10/20 (50%) and 1/20 (5%) within the first 2 h post-operation in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P > 0.05 for groups 1 and 2; P < 0.01 for groups 2 and 3; P < 0.001 for groups 1 and 3). In group 2, three patients required rescue medication during the first 2 h post-operation, but no significant difference was observed between groups 2 and 3 (P > 0.05). None of the cases in any of the groups needed any rescue medication during post-operative 2-4 h. It is concluded that tropisetron is a highly effective anti-emetic drug in the prophylaxis of post-operative vomiting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Uludag University School of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmazlar
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yilmazlar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gürpinar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Korun
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kutlay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077526:Tropisetron
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D007211:Indoles; D010919:Placebos; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D000077526:Tropisetron; D008787:Metoclopramide