title: Palonosetron and palonosetron plus dexamethasone to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A prospective, randomized, double-blind comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is associated with a high risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Palonosetron is a newer 5HT3 receptor antagonist, which is routinely used in our institution to prevent PONV in patients scheduled for LC, under general anesthesia (GA). We formulated this study to find out whether the palonosetron and dexamethasone combination will be a better choice than palonosetron alone in the prevention of PONV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II patients, scheduled for LC under GA, were randomized to receive either palonosetron or a combination of palonosetron and dexamethasone. The number of complete responders (no emesis, no requirement of rescue anti-emetic medication) and the four-point nausea score was recorded at 2, 6, 24, 48 h postoperatively and the data was analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of complete responders, as well as the nausea score, did not vary significantly (P=0.718) between the two groups over the 48-h postoperative period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The palonosetron and dexamethasone combination was not more effective than palonosetron alone in the prevention of PONV, in patients undergoing LC under GA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC), Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Soumyendu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC), Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Anirban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Bangur Institute of Neurology (BIN), Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Amita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC), Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Chaitali
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC), Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Tirtha Ratan
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC), Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Subhabrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
keywords: 5HT3 receptor antagonist; Complete responders; four-point nausea score