Ramosetron vs granisetron for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Author(s): Fujii Y, Saitoh Y, Tanaka H, Toyooka H.

Affiliation(s): Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Tsukuba Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki, Japan.

Publication date & source: 1999, Can J Anaesth. , 46(10):991-3

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of ramosetron with granisetron for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind study, 80 female inpatients received 3 mg granisetron or 0.3 mg ramosetron i.v. (n=40 of each) at the completion of surgery The standardized anesthetic included isoflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen. RESULTS: Complete response, defined as no PONV, during the first 24 hr (0-24 hr) after anesthesia was 85% with granisetron and 93% with ramosetron, respectively (P=0.241); the corresponding incidence during the next 24 hr (24-48 hr) after anesthesia was 63% and 90% (P=0.004). No clinically important adverse events due to the study drug were observed in any of the groups. CONCLUSION: Ramosetron was more effective than granisetron for prevention of PONV during 0-48 hr after anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.