Ondansetron disintegrating tablets of 8 mg twice a day for 3 days did not reduce the incidence of nausea or vomiting after laparoscopic surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Although many antiemetic drugs are available for intravenous use in the hospital setting, few are available after patient discharge. Consequently, nausea and vomiting are frequent complaints from patients at home after ambulatory surgery. We tested the hypothesis that the new 8 mg ondansetron disintegrating tablets will decrease the rate of nausea and vomiting at home after laparoscopic surgery.


METHODS
Ninety-six patients were studied in a randomized double-blind study. Starting the first evening after operation and continuing every 12 h for 3 days, patients received either placebo or ondansetron 8 mg disintegrating tablets orally. The patients returned a questionnaire about postoperative nausea and vomiting, other side-effects, e.g. dizziness, headache, nightmare, anxiety and pain, as well as their overall satisfaction at 24 and 72 h after completion of surgery.


RESULTS
The rates of nausea and vomiting were similar in the two groups, both during the first 24 h (28 versus 48%, placebo and ondansetron, respectively (ns) and during the 24-72 h (21 versus 35% (ns)). The incidence rate of vomiting was 8% (placebo) versus 12% (ondansetron) during the first 24 h (ns) and 9 versus 13% respectively in the 24-72 h (ns). No difference between groups was observed in overall satisfaction, incidence of postoperative pain or other side-effects.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of ondansetron disintegrating tablets of 8 mg twice a day for 3 days did not reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing outpatient laparoscopic surgery.
Thagaard
K S
KS
Ullevaal University Hospital, Department of Anaesthesia, Oslo, Norway.
Steine
S
S
Raeder
J
J
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D018662:Fundoplication; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013607:Tablets / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D000932:Antiemetics; D013607:Tablets; D017294:Ondansetron