title: The comparative study to evaluate the effect of palonosetron monotherapy versus palonosetron with dexamethasone combination therapy for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists are effective and safe on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Palonosetron, the newest 5-HT3 antagonist, has potent antiemetic property. We hypothesized that a combination of palonosetron and dexamethasone could more decrease PONV than palonosetron alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among the patients scheduled to undergo laparoscopic gynecologic surgery, mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty or thyroidectomy under general anesthesia, eighty four female patients with at least two PONV risk factors were enrolled in this study. They were received randomly 0.075 mg palonosetron and 4 mg dexamethasone (group C) or 0.075 mg palonosetron alone (group P). The severity of PONV using Rhodes index and the percentage of complete response during postoperative 24 hours were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of mild/moderate/great/severe PONV based on Rhodes index were 9.8%/0%/0%/0% and 9.3%/2.3%/2.3%/0% in group P and group C, respectively. Complete response for PONV was observed in 90.2% and 86% of patients in group P and group C, respectively. The overall incidence of PONV in group P and C was 9.8% and 14%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no differences between palonosetron monotherapy and combination therapy of palonosetron and dexamethasone in patients with high emetogenic risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Yun Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Sang Seok
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Hoon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Kye-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun Heum
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yon
authors.forename: Ki Hyuk
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hong
keywords: Dexamethasone; PONV; Palonosetron