INTRAVENOUS DOLASETRON MESILATE AMELIORATES POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING

Purpose: To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of dolasetr on mesilate with placebo for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Methods: in a randomized, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study 337 adult patients undergoing surgery with g eneral anaesthesia received one of four single, doses of dolasetron me silate iv (i 2.5, 25, 50, or 100 mg) or placebo, Study medication was administered postoperatively when the patient reported nausea lasting 10 min or when one emetic episode occurred within two hours of the pat ient's arrival in the recovery room, Efficacy was assessed by the inve stigators over the 24-hr study period by recording the number and timi ng of emetic episodes, the severity of nausea, the timing of administr ation of escape antiemetic medications, and patients' and investigator s' satisfaction with antiemetic therapy. Results: The study sample was predominately women, and the surgical procedures were primarily gynae cological, All dolasetron mesilate doses produced higher complete resp onse rates than placebo (P < 0.05). Only approximately one-third of do lasetron patients required escape antiemetic medication compared with more than 50% of patients in the placebo group. Both patient and physi cian satisfaction with dolasetron treatment was high. The most common adverse event was mild or moderate headache for both placebo-treated p atients and dolasetron-treated patients. Clinical laboratory results w ere unremarkable. Conclusion: Single doses of dolasetron mesilate iv, given after the first episode of PONV were both effective and safe in this adult patient population.