title: Prophylactic ondansetron for post-operative emesis: meta-analysis of its effectiveness in patients with and without a previous history of motion sickness.
abstract: The post-operative anti-emetic efficacy of 4 and 8 mg of ondansetron in adult patients with and without a previous history of motion sickness (PHMS) was assessed by meta-analysis. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluating the anti-emetic effectiveness of ondansetron in a 24-h period. In the 49 studies found, a further selection was with respect to those studies that noted the patient's previous history of motion sickness. Twelve trials involving 2122 patients; 446 previous history of motion sickness(+) patients and 1676 previous history of motion sickness(-) patients met the selection criteria. The dose of 4 mg ondansetron was 71.5% more effective in previous history of motion sickness(+) than in previous history of motion sickness(-) patients. For the 8 mg dose, the odds ratios (95% CI) were: previous history of motion sickness(+) = 3.11 (1.40-6.93) and previous history of motion sickness(-) = 2.08 (1.35-3.21). The calculated number needed to treat was also more favourable in previous history of motion sickness(+) patients for both doses of ondansetron, demonstrating a higher effectiveness in this subgroup of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Torrecardenas Hospital, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Figueredo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canosa
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D017294:Ondansetron