title: Tropisetron reduces postoperative vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy.
abstract: In this patient, parent and investigator blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study, children undergoing tonsillectomy (mean age 6.4 years) received either intravenous placebo (n=36) or tropisetron 0.2 mg.kg-1 up to 5 mg (n=35) at induction of anaesthesia with halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen. Morphine and paracetamol were given in theatre for postoperative pain. Episodes of vomiting were recorded during the first 24 h after surgery. Intravenous tropisetron was significantly (P<0.001, chi-squared) more effective than placebo in controlling the incidence and frequency of emesis during the first 24 h: vomiting was reduced from 89% to 46% and the mean number of vomits from 4.6 to 2.4. Minor side-effects occurred equally in both the placebo and active groups. Intravenous tropisetron is an effective and safe antiemetic for reducing postoperative vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy.
authors.affiliation: Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Coulthard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Walt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D000077526:Tropisetron
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D007211:Indoles; D000077526:Tropisetron; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D006221:Halothane