Combination therapy for postoperative nausea and vomiting - a more effective prophylaxis?

The problem of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains far from being resolved. Despite the introduction of new classes of antiemetics and a vast amount of published research, there is a general impression that there has been little progress in this area. The multifactorial etiology of PONV might be better addressed using a combination of drugs acting at different receptor sites. This approach of balanced antiemesis may be the answer towards achieving a significant improvement in the management of PONV. This article will cover the different strategies used to prevent PONV with particular emphasis on combination antiemetics. A review of the currently available methods to manage PONV as well as the physiological and pharmacological basis of combination therapy is presented.