Anesth Pain Med.  2012 Oct;7(4):312-316.

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

• Kim YY
• Song DU
• Lee KH
• Lee IJ
• Song JW
• Lim JH

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.

Keyword

Ondansetron; Palonosetron; Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV); Thyroidectomy

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Antiemetics
Female
Humans
Incidence
Isoquinolines
Nausea
Ondansetron
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Quinuclidines
Thyroidectomy
Vomiting
Antiemetics
Isoquinolines
Ondansetron
Quinuclidines