Comparison of ramosetron and ondansetron for control of post-operative nausea and vomiting following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is common. 5HT 3 receptor antagonists are commonly used drugs for its prevention. A study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of ramosetron and ondansetron in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (lap chole). MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective randomized case controlled study was conducted at J. N. Medical College Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India, in patients who underwent lap chole following intravenous administration of ondansetron (4mg) or ramosetron (0.3mg) at the end of surgery, and efficacy as well as side effects of ondansetron and ramosetron was documented and compared. RESULTS One hundred and thirty adult females undergoing lap chole were studied - 65 patients in each of the two groups. In first 24 h after surgery, complete response (No PONV) was observed in 28 patients of the ondansetron group and in 32 patients of the ramosetron group (P>0.05). Complete response in the second 24 h after surgery was observed in 30 patients of the ondansetron group and in 45 patients of the ramosetron group (P<0.05). During the first and second 24 h, PONV requiring rescue antiemetic was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the ondansetron group as compared to the ramosetron group. Adverse drug effects in the post-operative period were observed in 11 and 8 patients in ondansetron and ramosetron groups respectively (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Ramosetron was found safe and more effective antiemetic than ondansetron in patients undergoing lap chole.