title: Ondansetron and the risk of cardiac arrhythmias: a systematic review and postmarketing analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the risk of cardiac arrhythmias associated with ondansetron administration in the context of recent recommendations for identification of high-risk individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a postmarketing analysis and systematically reviewed the published literature, grey literature, manufacturer's database, Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System, and the World Health Organization Individual Safety Case Reports Database (VigiBase). Eligible cases described a documented (or perceived) arrhythmia within 24 hours of ondansetron administration. The primary outcome was arrhythmia occurrence temporally associated with the administration of a single, oral ondansetron dose. Secondary objectives included identifying all cases associating ondansetron administration (any dose, frequency, or route) to an arrhythmia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary: No reports describing an arrhythmia associated with single oral ondansetron dose administration were identified. Secondary: Sixty unique reports were identified. Route of administration was predominantly intravenous (80%). A significant medical history (67%) or concomitant use of a QT-prolonging medication (67%) was identified in 83% of reports. Approximately one third occurred in patients receiving chemotherapeutic agents, many of which are known to prolong the QT interval. An additional third involved administration to prevent postoperative vomiting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current evidence does not support routine ECG and electrolyte screening before single oral ondansetron dose administration to individuals without known risk factors. Screening should be targeted to high-risk patients and those receiving ondansetron intravenously.
authors: Sections of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Gastroenterology, Alberta Children's Hospital, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Stephen B
authors: SB
authors: Freedman
authors: Hospital Library and Archives, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Uleryk
authors: Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Maggie
authors: M
authors: Rumantir
authors: Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Divisions of Paediatric Emergency Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: yaron.finkelstein@sickkids.ca.
authors: Yaron
authors: Y
authors: Finkelstein
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D017294:Ondansetron