Prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting with ondansetron, metoclopramide, or placebo in total intravenous anesthesia patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

To compare total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with ondansetron, and metoclopramide in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients. A prospective randomized double-blinded study was performed at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2007. Seventy-five patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy under TIVA were randomized to receive either: metoclopramide 10 mg (n=25), 4 mg ondansetron (n=25), or placebo (n=25) at the end of surgery. Postoperative nausea and vomiting episodes, analgesic supply, rescue medication, adverse events, and patient satisfaction were collected over 24 hours. Nineteen patients developed PONV. The frequencies of PONV were equal for the 2 groups (28%), and lower among the ondansetron group (20%) (p>0.05). Female gender, lengthy surgery, and longer hospital stay were associated with more frequent PONV regardless of the study group (p