Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 43, 35-38, Copyright © 1996 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

ARTICLES

Granisetron reduces vomiting after strabismus surgery and tonsillectomy in children

Y Fujii, H Tanaka and H Toyooka
Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University School of Medicine, Japan.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the antiemetic efficacy of granisetron, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonist, on postoperative vomiting in children undergoing general anaesthesia for strabismus repair and tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. METHODS: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, fifty patients, 4-10 yr of age, were given a single dose of either placebo (saline, n = 25) or granisetron (40 micrograms.kg-1, n = 25) iv over 2-5 min after the induction of anaesthesia and prior to the surgical procedure. Postoperatively, during the first 24 hr after anaesthesia, the frequencies of retching and vomiting were recorded. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups with regard to patient characteristics, surgical procedures and anaesthetic or postoperative management. The incidence of retching was 36% and 12% after administration of placebo or granisetron, respectively (P < 0.05); the corresponding frequencies of vomiting were 32% and 8% (P < 0.05). Four children who had received placebo required another rescue antiemetic drug, whereas none who had received granisetron needed this agent. CONCLUSION: Granisetron is effective in the prevention of retching and vomiting after strabismus repair and tonsillectomy in paediatric patients.

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