Comparison of palonosetron with ondansetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy during a 48-hour period

Kim, Yu Yil; Song, Dong Un; Lee, Ki Hyun; Lee, Il Jung; Song, Jae Wook; Lim, Jin Hun

Clinical Research

Anesthetic Pharmacology

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2012;7(4):312-316.
Published online October 31, 2012.

Comparison of palonosetron with ondansetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy during a 48-hour period

Yu Yil Kim, Dong Un Song, Ki Hyun Lee, Il Jung Lee, Jae Wook Song, Jin Hun Lim

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonju, Korea. zion_yuyil@yahoo.co.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common complications after general anesthesia. This study compared the effects of palonosetron and ondansetron in preventing PONV in patients undergoing thyroidectomy.
METHODS
100 non-smoking female subjects were randomly assigned to a palonosetron group (n = 50) or an ondansetron group (n = 50). The patients of each group received 0.075 mg of palonosetron or 8 mg of ondansetron through intravenous bolus injection before induction of general anesthesia. The incidence of nausea and vomiting were monitored at 2 h, 24 h and 48 h after operation.
RESULTS
The incidence of PONV during 48 h after operation had no significant differences between the groups. However, the incidence of nausea was lower in the palonosetron group than in the ondansetron group (34% vs. 56%, P = 0.027). No differences were observed in incidences of vomiting, use of antiemetics and adverse events between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Palonosetron was more effective than ondansetron in preventing nausea for patients undergoing thyroidectomy. However, the effect of palonosetron or ondansetron in preventing PONV was similar.

Key Words: Ondansetron, Palonosetron, Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), Thyroidectomy