Preoperative oral granisetron for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after breast surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral granisetron for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after breast surgery.


METHODS
Prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.


METHODS
University affiliated hospital, Japan.


METHODS
100 women listed for partial or modified radical mastectomy with or without axillary dissection.


METHODS
Patients were given either placebo or granisetron in three different doses (1 mg, 2 mg, 4 mg) orally 1 hour preoperatively (n = 25 in each group). A standard general anaesthetic technique and postoperative analgesia were used.


METHODS
All episodes of nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours after anaesthesia.


RESULTS
Complete response, defined as no nausea and vomiting and no need for a "rescue" antiemetic, during the first 24 hours after anaesthesia was recorded in 13 (52%) with placebo, 14 (56%) with granisetron 1 mg, 22 (88%) with 2 mg, and 22 (88%) with 4 mg, respectively (p = 0.006, Fisher's exact test). No clinically serious adverse events were seen in any of the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative oral granisetron, in doses of more than 2 mg, is effective for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in women undergoing general anaesthesia for breast surgery.
Fujii
Y
Y
Department of Anaesthesiology, Toride Kyodo General Hospital, Toride City, Ibaraki, Japan. yfujii@igaku.md.tsukuba.ac.jp
Tanaka
H
H
Kawasaki
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D017829:Granisetron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical; D008875:Middle Aged; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care
D000932:Antiemetics; D017829:Granisetron