Comparison of ondansetron and tropisetron combined with droperidol for the prevention of emesis in women with a history of post-operative nausea and vomiting:

A Meta-Analysis of Palonosetron for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Adults

PURPOSE

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness and adverse effects of palonosetron in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

DESIGN

A meta-analysis using a systematic search strategy was performed.

METHODS

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials was performed to compare palonosetron with first-generation 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonist (5-HT3RA) or placebo to prevent PONV. Fixed or random effect models were used to combine homogenous data.

FINDINGS

A total of 10 randomized controlled clinical trials including 1,827 patients were identified. The data showed statistically significant differences in favor of palonosetron (0.075 mg) in the prevention of acute PONV (P < .00001) and delayed PONV (P < .002), reducing the risk of PONV by 49% and 51%, respectively. Subgroup analyses indicated significant differences in favor of palonosetron compared with placebo (P < .00001) or first-generation 5-HT3RA (P = .002). There were no significant differences in the occurrence of headache, dizziness, and constipation between palonosetron and control groups (P = .85, P = .22, and P = .30, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this meta-analysis suggest that intravenous palonosetron could become a prophylactic antiemetic 5-HT3RA in the prevention of PONV compared with first-generation 5-HT3RAs or placebo. No increased risk of side effects with palonosetron were found.

The efficacy of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists combined with droperidol for PONV prophylaxis is similar to their combination with dexamethasone. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

The aim of this quantitative systematic review is to compare the efficacy and side effects of combining one of the 5-HT(3) receptor antagonists (5-HT) with droperidol or dexamethasone for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prophylaxis.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search (Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) for randomized controlled trials that compared the antiemetic efficacy of combining one of the 5-HT with droperidol or dexamethasone vs 5-HT alone. Relevant endpoints were prevention of early (0 to 6 hr), and overall (0 to 24 hr) PONV, and side effects. The articles that could meet the inclusion criteria were scored for inclusion and methodological validity using the three-item, five-point, Oxford-scale. Relative risk and numbers needed-to-treat with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each combination vs 5-HT alone. The two combinations were then indirectly compared. A random effects model was used.

RESULTS

We considered 41 trials for analysis but subsequently excluded eight. Thirty-three trials with data from 3,447 patients were analyzed. Except for early nausea with the 5-HT plus droperidol, both combinations were significantly more effective than 5-HT in preventing early and overall PONV. There was no difference in antiemetic efficacy between the two combinations. The incidence of commonly reported side effects was also similar in the two combination groups.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that there is no statistically significant difference in antiemetic efficacy or side effects profile when one of the 5-HT is combined with either droperidol or dexamethasone and that both combination regimens are significantly more effective than 5-HT alone.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Combination Antiemetic Regimens for Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting : Focus on High-Risk Patients

None of the available antiemetics is entirely effective, perhaps because most of them act through the blockade of one receptor. There is a possibility that a combination of antiemetics with different sites of activity would be more effective than one drug alone for prophylaxis against postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).The clinical use of combined traditional antiemetics, including antihistamines (e.g. diphenhydramine), butyrophenones (e.g. droperidol) and benzamides (e.g. metoclopramide), for the prevention of PONV is limited because of the possibility of additive central nervous system toxicity, such as delayed emergence, drowsiness and extrapyramidal reactions. The efficacy of a combination of a serotonin 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist (ondansetron, granisetron or tropisetron) and dexamethasone is superior to that of 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists alone for the prevention of PONV, suggesting that dexamethasone enhances the antiemetic efficacy of 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists. The combination of a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist with a traditional antiemetic (droperidol, metoclopramide or promethazine) acting at a different emetogenic receptor is more effective in reducing the incidence of PONV than each antiemetic alone acting at one receptor site. The risk of undesirable adverse effects does not increase with the combination of a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist and a traditional antiemetic at the doses commonly used for PONV, because of the absence of drug interactions. The combination of a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist (ondansetron) with other agents (propofol and CP-122721) reduces the incidence of PONV to a greater degree than monotherapy. However, no data are available for the combination of 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists and small doses of propofol for the prevention of PONV.Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination antiemetic regimens for PONV. Knowledge regarding combinations of these antiemetic drugs may be necessary to completely prevent PONV.

Tropisetron in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of tropisetron, a selective 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist, in preventing nausea and vomiting in high-risk inpatients undergoing various surgical procedures.

DESIGN

Prospective, open, nonrandomized, observational, interventional study.

SETTING

Postanesthesia care unit, and surgical wards of the University Hospital Center, Charleroi.

PATIENTS

A total of 1,132 elective surgical inpatients (>15 years of age) in two separate surveys. The first prospective survey covered all surgical adult inpatients (n = 671) after various surgical procedures over a 3-month period. A new 3-month survey was performed to assess the effectiveness of the preventive measure and included another 461 patients.

INTERVENTIONS

Risk factors associated with nausea and vomiting were recorded in the first survey and used to establish an antiemetic policy. This consisted in the administration of tropisetron 2 mg intravenously after anesthesia induction, if two patient-related risk factors associated with high-risk surgery and general anesthesia were present.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Nausea frequency and intensity, assessed every 4 hours using a visual analog scale (VAS), frequency and times of vomiting episodes and the need for rescue medication were recorded for 72 hours postoperatively. Nausea was experienced by 18.8% and vomiting by 9.8% of the patients in the first survey (211 high risk-patients of 671). In the second survey, 137 patients of 461, considered at high-risk received prophylactic tropisetron. The proportion of patients having nausea decreased to 11.1% (p,178 0.01) and vomiting episodes to 2.8% (p < 0.001). Twenty-six of the tropisetron-treated patients (19%) suffered subsequent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Patient satisfaction with tropisetron was high.

CONCLUSION

Prophylactic tropisetron can reduce the incidence of PONV in selected high-risk inpatients undergoing various types of surgical procedures.