IngentaConnect Comparison of ondansetron, metoclopramide and placebo as premedic...

Authors: Alexander, R.¹; Fennelly, M.¹

Source: Anaesthesia, Volume 52, Number 7, July 1997 , pp. 695-698(4)

Abstract:

In a randomised, double-blind study, we have compared the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in 124 patients undergoing major lower limb orthopaedic surgery following oral premedication with temazapam and ondansetron 8 mg, metoclopramide 10 mg or placebo. They received a standardised epidural and general anaesthetic. An epidural mixture containing bupivacaine 0.1% and fentanyl 10 mg.ml⁻¹ was infused postoperatively. The occurrence of nausea and vomiting was assessed every 4 h for 24 h. The incidence of vomiting significantly decreased from 55% and 43% in the placebo and metoclopramide groups, respectively, to 26% in the ondansetron group (p = 0.03). The incidence of nausea and vomiting in patients who had previously suffered was also significantly reduced from 67% and 68% in the placebo and metoclopramide groups, respectively, to 29% in the ondansetron group (p = 0.035). We conclude that oral premedication with ondansetron 8 mg was superior to metoclopramide 10 mg and placebo in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting following major orthopaedic surgery in patients given epidural opioid analgesia.

Keywords: Pharmacology; metoclopramide, ondansetron. Vomiting; nausea. Surgery; orthopaedic

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1997.az0130a.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Anaesthetics, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex, UK

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Comparison of ondansetron, metoclopramide and placebo as premedicants to reduce nausea and vomiting after major surgery