Sandeep Prithviraj Pandharpukar1, Ravichandra Dodawad2, Sumalatha G. B3
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) is one of the most unpleasant and distressing symptom associated with anaesthesia and surgery. Despite the advances in our understanding of PONV, the overall incidence of emetic sequelae after a balanced anaesthetic remains between 20% and 30% approaching 70% inpatients in certain high-risk categories The objective of the study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of ramosetron versus ondansetron in preventing and reducing the incidence of PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia.
METHODOLOGY
Eighty patients of ASA grades I and II between age groups of 20-60 years posted for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under GA were randomly selected and allocated into two groups of 40 each. Group O received ondansetron 8 mg IV and group R received ramosetron 0.3 mg IV at the time of extubation. Anaesthetic procedure was standardised and was common to all the patients. Postoperatively, the episodes of nausea, vomiting, and the need for rescue antiemetics and side effects were assessed postoperatively for 24 hours at intervals of 0-2 hours, 2-6 hours, 6-12 hours, and 12-24 hours.
RESULTS
There was no difference in the demographic data between the two study groups. The incidence of nausea, vomiting, and use of rescue antiemetic was significantly less in ramosetron group (10%, 2.5%, 2.5%) as compared to ondansetron group (42.5%, 32.5%, 10%). Both the study groups did not have significant adverse effects reflecting that both the drugs were well tolerated.
CONCLUSION
Ramosetron 0.3 mg was more effective in preventing PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy as compared to ondansetron 8 mg.
