Transdermal scopolamine patch in addition to ondansetron for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis in patients undergoing ambulatory cosmetic surgery.

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE:

To determine the efficacy of transdermal scopolamine in addition to ondansetron in decreasing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

DESIGN:

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING:

Academic hospital.

PATIENTS:

126 ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing outpatient plastic surgery with three or more risk factors for PONV.

INTERVENTIONS:

Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups to receive (Group 1) a transdermal scopolamine (TDS) patch or (Group 2), a placebo patch two hours before surgery.

MEASUREMENTS:

Occurrence of vomiting, severity of nausea using a visual analog scale (VAS), rescue medication, pain intensity and pain medications, and side effects were recorded every hour until discharge from hospital, then every 4 hours thereafter for a total of 24 hours.

MAIN RESULTS:

A statistically significant reduction in postoperative nausea between 8 and 24 hours in patients receiving TDS was noted.

CONCLUSIONS:

Transdermal scopolamine in addition to ondansetron benefits patients at high risk for PONV undergoing outpatient plastic surgery for up to 20 hours after surgery.

• Authors: Neera Sah, Vimala Ramesh, Bupesh Kaul, Patricia Dalby, Kenneth Shestak, Manuel C Vallejo
• Journal: Journal of clinical anesthesia (J Clin Anesth) Vol. 21 Issue 4 Pg. 249-52 (Jun 2009) ISSN: 1873-4529 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19502023 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antiemetics
• Cholinergic Antagonists
• Ondansetron
• Scopolamine

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adult
• Ambulatory Surgical Procedures (adverse effects)
• Antiemetics (therapeutic use)
• Cholinergic Antagonists (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ondansetron (therapeutic use)
• Pain (etiology)
• Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (prevention & control)
• Prospective Studies
• Scopolamine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Surgery, Plastic (adverse effects)
• Time Factors