Lornoxicam and ondansetron for the prevention of intrathecal fentanyl-induced pruritus.
OBJECTIVE
In this randomized, double-blind study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of lornoxicam and ondansetron for the prevention of intrathecal fentanyl-induced pruritus in patients undergoing cesarean section.


METHODS
One hundred and eight parturients (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] I-II status) requesting neuraxial analgesia by a combined spinal-epidural (CSE) technique were recruited for this study. A CSE technique was performed and anesthesia was achieved with fentanyl 25 microg and hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg. Patients were randomly allocated to three groups, each with 36 participants. Immediately following delivery, patients received either lornoxicam 8 mg IV (group L; n = 36), ondansetron 8 mg IV (group O; n = 36), or normal saline 2 ml IV (group P; n = 36). Pruritus, pain, and nausea and vomiting scores were recorded during the initial 24 h postoperatively.


RESULTS
The incidence of pruritus was significantly lower in group O from 4 to 12 h postoperatively when compared to that in group L and group P. According to the pruritus grading system we used, the number of patients without pruritus was significantly higher in group O when compared to that in group L and group P. The number of patients experiencing moderate pruritus was significantly lower in group O when compared to that in group P.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed that the administration of 8 mg IV lornoxicam failed to prevent intrathecal fentanyl-induced pruritus in parturients. Also, our data confirmed that ondansetron is likely to attenuate intrathecal fentanyl-induced pruritus.
Gulhas
Nurcin
N
Department of Anesthesiology, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
Erdil
Feray Akgul
FA
Sagir
Ozlem
O
Gedik
Ender
E
Togal
Turkan
T
Begec
Zekine
Z
Ersoy
M Ozcan
MO
D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001034:Apgar Score; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000982:Antipruritics; D010894:Piroxicam; D017294:Ondansetron; C059451:lornoxicam; D005283:Fentanyl