ONDANSETRON COMPARED WITH METOCLOPRAMIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF ESTABLISHED POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING

We have studied 746 males and females undergoing general anaesthesia f or any type of surgical procedure in a double-blind, controlled, rando mized study. After experiencing at least one nausea and/or one emetic episode in the 6 h after recovery from anaesthesia, patients received either ondansetron 4 mg i.v. or metoclopramide 10 mg i.v. Patients wer e observed for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) for 24 h after drug administration. Complete control of PONV was achieved more frequ ently in the ondansetron-treated patients compared with the metoclopra mide-treated patients during the 24-h period (59% vs 41% (P<0.001) and 44% vs 34% (P=0.006) for emetic episodes and nausea, respectively). F urthermore, ondansetron was associated with greater patient satisfacti on than metoclopramide (P<0.001) with 49% and 32% of patients, respect ively, very satisfied. The overall incidence of adverse events was sim ilar in the ondansetron (7%) and metoclopramide (8%) groups. Ondansetr on was as well tolerated and more effective than metoclopramide for al l assessment criteria in the treatment of established PONV.