title: Effective Dose of Ramosetron for Prophylaxis of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in High-Risk Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common adverse events with an incidence of up to 80% in high-risk patients. Ramosetron, a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, is widely used to prevent PONV. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effective dose of ramosetron for the prevention of PONV in high-risk patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one patients were randomly allocated to 3 groups and were administered ramosetron 0.3 mg (group A), 0.45 mg (group B), or 0.6 mg (group C), at the end of their surgery. The episodes of PONV were assessed 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours after the injection and all the adverse events were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The complete response rate in the postoperative period 6-24 hours after the anesthesia was higher in group C than in group A: 93% versus 44%. Group C's experience score of Rhodes index was lower than group A's: 0.81 ± 2.56 versus 3.94 ± 5.25. No adverse drug reaction could be observed in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effective dose of ramosetron to be injected for the near-complete prophylaxis of PONV 6 to 24 hours after surgery in high-risk patients is a 0.6 mg bolus injection at the end of the surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 519-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seongheon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 519-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sinho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 519-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joungmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 519-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seongwook
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; C071315:ramosetron