Efficacy comparison of ramosetron with ondansetron on preventing nausea and vomiting in high-risk patients following spine surgery with a single bolus of dexamethasone as an adjunct

Choi YS et al. – The antiemetic efficacy of ramosetron plus dexamethasone was similar to that of ondansetron plus dexamethasone on preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in high–risk patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery.

Methods

• In this randomized, double–blind study, 120 female non–smoking patients with intravenous patient–controlled analgesia (PCA) received ramosetron 0.3mg plus dexamethasone 5mg (group R+D) or ondansetron 4mg plus dexamethasone 5mg (group O+D) intravenously.
• Fentanyl–based PCA was administered for 48hr postoperatively; ramosetron 0.3mg or ondansetron 12mg was added to the PCA regimen according to the allocated group.
• The incidence of PONV and rescue antiemetic were assessed for 48hr postoperatively at 0–6, 6–24, and 24–48hr.

Results

• The overall incidence of PONV did not differ between the groups (50% vs. 60%, in groups R+D and O+D, respectively).
• The overall incidence of nausea was similar between groups (47% vs. 60%, in groups R+D and O+D, respectively).
• The overall frequency of vomiting was also similar between groups (8% vs. 12%, in groups R+D and O+D, respectively).
• The severity of nausea and the overall use of rescue antiemetic were not different between groups.

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