title: Ondansetron versus placebo for the control of nausea and vomiting during Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.
abstract: This prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was performed to evaluate the effects of ondansetron on nausea and vomiting during elective Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. Seventy-four full-term parturients were studied. After umbilical-cord clamping, ondansetron 4 mg or 0.9% saline was injected intravenously and the study period continued for 2 h. The severity of nausea was graded from 0 = none to 10 = maximum, while that of vomiting was graded from single = once per min to continuous = multiple per min. The incidence of vomiting was lower following ondansetron (36%) compared with the control group (58%, p < 0.028). Neither the severity of vomiting nor the incidence of nausea was influenced by ondansetron. However, for those who experienced nausea, ondansetron reduced its severity (p = 0.05). We conclude that the intra-operative administration of 4 mg ondansetron intravenously during Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia significantly reduces the incidence of vomiting and the severity of nausea.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas Health Science Centre, Houston 77030-1501, USA.
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Abouleish
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giezentanner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joynton
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Chuang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D017294:Ondansetron