title: Granisetron reduces the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are commonly observed undesirable consequences of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study was undertaken to compare granisetron, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonist, with droperidol for reducing the incidence and severity of PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients, aged 25-65 yr, scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled in a randomized, double-blinded investigation and assigned to one of three treatment regimens: placebo (saline), 1.25 mg droperidol (approximately 25 micrograms.kg-1) or 3 mg granisetron (approximately 60 micrograms.kg-1). The study drugs were administered iv immediately before the induction of anaesthesia. A standard general anaesthetic technique was employed throughout. Nausea, vomiting and safety assessments were performed continuously during the first 24 hr after anaesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of PONV was 46% with placebo, 41% with droperidol and 15% with granisetron (P < 0.05; overall chi 2 test). Four patients who had received placebo and two who had received droperidol required another rescue antiemetic, compared with none who had received granisetron (P < 0.05). Adverse events postoperatively were not different among the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Granisetron is more effective than droperidol and placebo for reducing the incidence and severity of PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Toride Kyodo General Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toyooka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004329:Droperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017829:Granisetron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010919:Placebos; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011292:Premedication; D012449:Safety; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004329:Droperidol; D017829:Granisetron; D010919:Placebos; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists