title: Intravenous dolasetron mesilate ameliorates postoperative nausea and vomiting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of dolasetron mesilate with placebo for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study 337 adult patients undergoing surgery with general anaesthesia received one of four single, doses of dolasetron mesilate iv (12.5, 25, 50, or 100 mg) or placebo. Study medication was administered postoperatively when the patient reported nausea lasting 10 min or when one emetic episode occurred within two hours of the patient's arrival in the recovery room. Efficacy was assessed by the investigators over the 24-hr study period by recording the number and timing of emetic episodes, the severity of nausea, the timing of administration of escape antiemetic medications, and patients' and investigators' satisfaction with antiemetic therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample was predominately women, and the surgical procedures were primarily gynaecological. All dolasetron mesilate doses produced higher complete response rates than placebo (P < 0.05). Only approximately one-third of dolasetron patients required escape antiemetic medication compared with more than 50% of patients in the placebo group. Both patient and physician satisfaction with dolasetron treatment was high. The most common adverse event was mild or moderate headache for both placebo-treated patients and dolasetron-treated patients. Clinical laboratory results were unremarkable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single doses of dolasetron mesilate iv, given after the first episode of PONV, were both effective and safe in this adult patient population.
authors.affiliation: Hôpitaux Universitaires, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diemunsch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leeser
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Feiss
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Hollander
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Bradburn
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paxton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whitmore
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panouillot
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navé
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Hahne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D007211:Indoles; D011807:Quinolizines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; C060344:dolasetron