• Peter H Pan, Sherman C Lee, and Lynne C Harris.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. ppan@wfubmc.edu
• Anesth. Analg. 2008 Aug 1;107(2):429-38.

BackgroundWe compared two antiemetic prophylaxis regimens, their efficacy for preventing postdischarge nausea and vomiting, and their impact on quality of living, during recovery.MethodsSixty-four women undergoing outpatient gynecological surgery and at high risk for emesis were randomized into one of two groups. The study group received intraoperative IV dexamethasone 8 mg and ondansetron 4 mg, followed with an 8 mg oral disintegrating ondansetron tablet, to be taken on discharge and in the morning of postoperative days 1 and 2. The control group received only the IV ondansetron 4 mg intraoperatively. The incidence and severity of emetic symptoms and pain were assessed while patients were in the recovery room and via telephone and patient diary for 5 days after discharge. A modified functional living index of emesis was used to assess the impact on quality of living during recovery.ResultsSixty patients, 30 in each group, completed the study. The incidences for postdischarge nausea were 57% and 20%, and for postdischarge vomiting 20% and 3% in the control and study groups, respectively, for the period between the 8th and 120th hours postanesthesia (P < 0.05). Thirty-three percent of the study and 60% of the control group reported that emetic symptoms negatively affected their quality of living (P < 0.05).ConclusionsWhen compared with a single dose of intraoperative IV ondansetron prophylaxis, our study regimen of additional intraoperative dexamethasone and once a day ondansetron significantly reduced the incidence of postdischarge nausea and vomiting and its negative impact on quality of living during the first 5 days of recovery.

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