title: The efficacy of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after craniotomy: a meta-analysis.
abstract: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of prophylactic administration of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists for postoperative nausea and vomiting in neurosurgical patients at 24 and 48+ hours. After a systematic search, 7 published randomized placebo controlled trials involving 448 craniotomy patients (222 treatment, 226 control) were included in the meta-analysis. Study drugs included ondansetron, granisetron, and tropisetron. The cumulative incidence of emesis was significantly reduced in the treatment group at 24 hours [relative risk (RR)=0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38-0.66] and 48+ hours (RR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.36-0.75). There were no differences between the treatment and control groups in the cumulative incidence of nausea at 24 hours (RR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.54-1.06) and 48+ hours (RR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.62-1.06). The cumulative incidence of both nausea and vomiting continued to increase after 24 hours in both groups. Despite the ability of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists to reduce emetic episodes, future investigations should seek to address the control of postoperative nausea and to reduce further postoperative emesis in this population.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: Christine V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Newburn-Cook
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D017829:Granisetron / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3 / Q000187:drug effects*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077526:Tropisetron
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D017829:Granisetron; D007211:Indoles; D017294:Ondansetron; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D000077526:Tropisetron