title: Gabapentin for Postoperative Vomiting in Children Requiring Posterior Fossa Tumor Resection.
abstract: Gabapentin is well known for its pain control and antiepileptic effect, but its antiemetic effect is poorly investigated. Here we report on effective gabapentin use for refractory vomiting after craniotomy in two children with medulloblastoma in the fourth ventricle. The two pediatric patients (an 11-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy) underwent near-total excision of the tumor via craniotomy. Both patients suffered from refractory postoperative nausea and vomiting, treated with multiple traditional antiemetic drugs but without relief. After gabapentin intake, their nausea and vomiting improved from one to two episodes per day to complete resolution of symptoms. This report suggests that gabapentin may be a novel antiemetic therapeutic intervention for patients with refractory nausea and vomiting after craniotomy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric, Taipei Hospital, Department of Health, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ko-Chun
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: pcfan6@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Pi-Chuan
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000601:surgery*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin
keywords: gabapentin; post-operative vomiting; posterior fossa tumor