Granisetron versus tropisetron in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after total thyroidectomy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are frequently encountered after thyroidectomy. For PONV prevention, selective serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists are considered one of the first-line therapy. We report on the efficiency of granisetron and tropisetron, with that of placebo on the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy.

METHODS:

One hundred twenty-seven patients were divided into three groups and randomized to receive intravenously, prior to induction of anesthesia, tropisetron 5 mg, or granisetron 3 mg, or normal saline. All patients received additionally 0.625 mg droperidol. All episodes of postoperative PONV during the first 24 h after surgery were evaluated.

RESULTS:

Nausea visual analogue scale (VAS) score was lower in tropisetron and granisetron groups than the control group at all measurements (P<0.01) except for the 8-h measurement for tropisetron (P=0.075). Moreover, granisetron performed better than tropisetron (P<0.011 at 4 h and P<0.01 at all other points of time) apart from the 2-h measurement. Vomiting occurred in 22.2%, 27.5%, and 37.5% in granisetron, tropisetron, and control groups, respectively (P=0.43).

CONCLUSIONS:

The combination of the 5-HT3 antagonists with droperidol given before induction of anesthesia is well tolerated and superior to droperidol alone in preventing nausea but not vomiting after total thyroidectomy.

• Authors: Artemisia Papadima, Stavros Gourgiotis, Emmanuel Lagoudianakis, Apostolos Pappas, Charalampos Seretis, Pantelis T Antonakis, Haridimos Markogiannakis, Ira Makri, Andreas Manouras
• Journal: Saudi journal of anaesthesia (Saudi J Anaesth) Vol. 7 Issue 1 Pg. 68-74 (Jan 2013) ISSN: 1658-354X [Print] India
• PMID: 23717236 (Publication Type: Journal Article)