[Can preoperative administration of H2 blocker reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)?].
BACKGROUND
PONV is a complication that reduces a patient's quality of life (QOL). Recently, it was reported that PONV is reduced by preoperative administration of histamine receptor (H1 and H2) inhibitor. In the present study, based on the hypothesis that PONV might be reduced by preoperative administration of H2 blocker, we examined the effect of preoperative administration of H2 blocker only on the incidence of PONV.


METHODS
Eighty seven patients having regular operations were randomly assigned into two groups; the control (C), and the H2 blocker (F) groups. In the operating room, 20 min after intravenous injection of famotidine 20 mg as H2 blocker, anesthesia was maintened by sevofluorane, oxygen, nitrous oxide, and fentanyl following the induction by fentanyl, propofol, and vecuronium. The frequency and extent of vomiting were observed and the patients were interviewed at postoperative hours 0-6 and 6-12. The incidences between the two groups were examined using the chi-squared test.


RESULTS
No significant difference in the appearance of PONV was found between the F group and the C group. In women in the F group, the incidence of vomiting was lower.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative administration of H2 blocker tends to reduce PONV in women.
Nozaki
Chisato
C
Department of Anesthesiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, School of Medicine, Tokyo 162-8666.
Morioka
Nobutada
N
Kinoshita
Maho
M
Takada
Mikiko
M
Ozaki
Makoto
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015738:Famotidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011292:Premedication; D011300:Preoperative Care
D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D015738:Famotidine