Nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery: A study of theincidence and the effects of tropisetron prophylaxis

We have studied the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) a nd the effect of prophylactic tropisetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, during the f irst 24 hr after elective gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. Thirty-two of 6 8 patients (47%) experienced nausea or vomiting some time during the observ ation period. Sixteen of these patients (50%) had their first emetic sympto ms after discharge from the recovery room. We could see no difference in th e frequency of PONV in the patients who were given prophylactic tropisetron 5 mg orally before anesthesia.