European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

BACKGROUND Ondansetron is currently one of the commonly used drug for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults. New drugs such as Palonosetron have emerged as alternative for postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults. Both have been tried for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic  gynaecological  surgeries. We, therefore conducted a prospective, randomized, double blind comparative study to compare the efficacy of injection ondansetron 4 mg with palonosetron 75µg to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting in female patients undergoing general anaesthesia for elective laparoscopic non gynaecological surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a prospective, randomized, double blinded, comparative study. All thepatients were well informed about study & each one of them gave written in formed  & valid consent to participate in the study. Total number of patients in the study was 100, with 50 patients in each of the two groups.Grouping done as follows Group I Injection  Ondansetron 4 mg Group II Injection  Palonosetron 75 mcg RESULTS The demographic data were comparable in both the groups. The incidence of nausea in ondansetron  group at 0 hrs, 1hrs, 2hrs, 3hrs, 12hrs, 24hrs, 48hrs are 12%, 12%, 08%, 04%, 0%, and 0% and in palonosetron group  is 2%, 12%, 0%, 2%, 2%, 0% and 0% respectively. The incidence palonosetron and ondansetron  groups though look clinically significant did not reach statistical significance .The incidence of vomiting in ondansetron was 0%, 6%, 10%, 10%, 2%, 0% and  0% and in palonosetron was  0% , 8% ,8%, 2%, 0% ,0% and 0% at 0 hrs ,1hrs , 2hrs , 3 hrs , 12hrs ,24hrs  and 48hrs respectively.  The incidence of  requirement of rescue antiemetic in ondansetron   group at  0hrs,1hrs, 2hrs, 3hrs,12hrs, 24hrs and 48 hrs   are  0(0%),5 (10%),5(10%), 6(12%),  1(2%)  ,0(0%),0(0%) and in  palonosetron   group 0(0%),4(08%),4(08%),02(04%), 0(0%), 0(0%), 0(0%)  respectively. CONCLUSION We found no statistical significance in terms of nausea, vomiting and the administration of rescue antiemetic between the two groups in the 48hour observation period. As per the study, both drugs are equally effective in the 48  hour observation period.