title: Ondansetron reducing pain on injection of etomidate: a controlled randomized study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Etomidate causes pain when injected intravenously. In this study we sought to determine if pretreatment by ondansetron reduces the pain on injection of etomidate.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 20 patients of both sexes aged between 18 and 50 years of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class I or II, whom were candidates for various elective surgical procedures and need more than one intravenous access were enrolled in the study. On arrival to the operating room two 22 gauge cannulas were inserted into veins on the dorsum of both hands. Following the infusion of 100mL normal saline into both intravenous lines, using an elastic band, venous drainage of hands was occluded at midarm. The patients were administered 8 mg (2 mL) of ondansetron into one hand and 2 mL of 0.9% saline into the other hand at the same time. The elastic band was removed after 1 min and 2mg (1 mL) of etomidate was administered at the same rate simultaneously into intravenous lines. The patients were asked to give a score of pain based on a verbal analog scale (VAS) to each hand.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total number of 20 patients were studied (male = 55%, female = 45%). The mean age of the participants was 37.5 ± 13.1 years old and the mean weight was 67.7 ± 7.3 kg. The mean VAS for injection pain of etomidate after pre-administration of intravenous ondansetron was 1.5 ± 1.2 which was lower compared to pre-administration of placebo (3.2 ± 2.8, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study illustrates that pre-treatment with intravenous ondansetron significantly reduces the pain on injection of etomidate.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Azimaraghi
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Yasaman
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aghajani
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maziar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molaghadimi
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Malihe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.affiliation: Development Research Center, Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Kobra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eslami
authors.affiliation: Development Research Center, Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghadimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: movafegh@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Movafegh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005045:Etomidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017294:Ondansetron; D005045:Etomidate
keywords: Etomidate; Ondansetron; Pain