Effective dose of granisetron for the prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

This study was undertaken to determine the minimum effective dose of granisetron, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonist, for the prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in female patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 120 women were assigned to receive either placebo (saline) or granisetron at three different doses (20 micrograms kg-1, 40 micrograms kg-1 or 80 micrograms kg-1) intravenously immediately before the induction of anaesthesia. All patients received standardized anaesthesia consisting of isoflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen. The incidence of PONV during the first 24 hours after anaesthesia was 43, 40, 13 and 13% after administration of placebo and granisetron 20 micrograms kg-1, 40 micrograms kg-1 and 80 micrograms kg-1, respectively (P < 0.05, overall Fisher's exact probability test). Adverse effects post-operatively were not different among the groups. In conclusion, granisetron 40 micrograms kg-1 is the minimum effective dose in the prevention of PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.