Tropisetron reduces vomiting after tonsillectomy in children.
Nausea and vomiting are common after adenotonsillectomy. Tropisetron is a new, long-acting serotonin antagonist that is an effective antiemetic in adults. Its effect on postoperative nausea and vomiting in children is unknown. We carried out a randomized, double-blind study of the effects of a single i.v. dose of tropisetron on vomiting after tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy in children. Forty-eight children undergoing tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy received at induction of anaesthesia either tropisetron 0.1 mg kg-1 or placebo. The incidence of vomiting was recorded for the first 24 h after surgery by nursing staff and then by parents after discharge from hospital. Children received metoclopramide 0.15 mg kg-1 as a rescue antiemetic. We found that tropisetron reduced the overall incidence of emetic episodes after surgery (29% compared with 65% in control group; P = 0.019) and the incidence of severe vomiting (0% compared with 52% in control group; P < 0.001). We conclude that tropisetron is an effective antiemetic for children undergoing tonsillectomy.
Department of Anaesthesia, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia.
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D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D000077526:Tropisetron; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000932:Antiemetics; D007211:Indoles; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D000077526:Tropisetron