Oral Ondansetron in the Prevention of Per and Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting

A randomized single blind study was done in the Department of Anaesthesiology, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital to demonstrate the role of ondansetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, in alleviating per and post operative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing caeserian section (CS) under subarachnoid block (SAB). For the purpose, the incidence of per and post operative nausea and vomiting were compared between matched case (n=119) and control (n=121) groups undergoing CS under SAB. Cases received 16 mg ondansetron orally one hour prior to surgery. Anti emetic prophylaxis with single dose ondansetron resulted in significant reduction of per operative and immediate post operative (2 hours) nausea and vomiting. However, at sixth post operative hour difference in nausea and vomiting between case and control groups became less significant (<0.05). Incidence of nausea and vomiting during 1 post operative hour in ondansetron group was 4.2% and 0.84% respectively in comparison to 41.3% and 19.8% in control group. During 2 post operative hour no incidence of nausea and/or vomiting were observed among subjects receiving ondansetron whereas in control group 29.2% and 5% subjects suffered from nausea and vomiting, respectively. Overall, ondansetron 16 mg is well tolerated and easy to use. Results of the present study revealed that ondansetron can be effectively used in preventing per operative and immediate post operative nausea and vomiting. TAJ 2005; 18(1): 1-4 1 Associate Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi. 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi. 3 Junior Consultant, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi. 4 Anaesthesiologist, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshah