Antiemetic effects of granisetron on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients with and without motion sickness.

PURPOSE This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was to evaluate the effects of granisetron, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonist, for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in 110 patients with (n = 50) and without (n = 60) a history of motion sickness undergoing general anaesthesia for major gynaecological surgery. METHODS The patients received a single dose of either granisetron (40 micrograms.kg-1) or placebo (saline) iv over 2-5 min immediately before induction of anaesthesia. Postoperatively, during the first 24 hr after anaesthesia, the frequencies of nausea and vomiting were recorded. RESULTS Except for a positive history of motion sickness, the treatment groups were similar for patient characteristics, types of surgery, anaesthetics administered and opioids given. Postoperatively, the frequency of nausea was 44% and 16% after administration of placebo and granisetron in patients with motion sickness, and was 30% and 7% in patients without it, respectively; the corresponding frequencies of vomiting were 28%, 8%, 13% and 3%. The incidence of adverse events postoperatively were not different among the groups. CONCLUSION These results suggest that preoperative prophylactic administration of granisetron is effective and safe for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients with motion sickness as well as in patients without it.