Patient-controlled analgesia combined with either ondansetron or ondansetron plus prochlorperazine for control of pain and nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare ondansetron with ondansetron plus prochlorperazine, added to a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) solution for control of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, double-blinded study.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENTS

150 ASA physical status I, II, and III patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were given a PCA morphine solution containing either 30 mg of ondansetron (Group O), 30 mg of ondansetron plus 20 mg of prochlorperazine (Group OP), or no antiemetic (Group C; control group).

MEASUREMENTS

Demographic data were recorded, along with anesthetic and surgical time, total fluid intake, frequency of Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU) PONV, discharge time and length of stay, frequency of PONV while on the hospital floor, highest nausea scores, total PCA morphine use, and PCA utilization times.

MAIN RESULTS

Demographic and intraoperative variables were similar in all groups. In the first 24 hours after surgery, nausea was higher in Group C than Group OP. Emesis in Group C was twice that of either Group O or Group OP. No differences were noted between groups in PACU PONV. Patients receiving ondansetron plus prochlorperazine when on the hospital floor had a lower frequency of nausea, while patients receiving ondansetron alone had a lower frequency of vomiting than did the control group. The adjusted odds of vomiting doubled for every 12 hours for Group C patients when receiving PCA.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination antiemetics added to PCA reduced emetic symptoms after abdominal surgery.