• Youn Yi Jo, Jong Wha Lee, Jae Kwang Shim, Woo Kyung Lee, and Yong Seon Choi.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gachon University, Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
• Surg Endosc. 2012 Aug 1;26(8):2306-11.

BackgroundIn this randomized and controlled study, we evaluated the antiemetic efficacy of ramosetron combined with dexamethasone for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) compared with that of dexamethasone or ramosetron alone in women who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.MethodsOne hundred twenty female patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups to receive antiemetics as follows: ramosetron 0.3 mg (group R), dexamethasone 8 mg (group D), or ramosetron 0.3 mg combined with dexamethasone 8 mg (group RD). PONV, postoperative pain intensity, rescue antiemetics requirement, and side effects were assessed at 0-6, 6-12, and 12-24 h after surgery.ResultsThe ratio of complete response (no PONV and no rescue antiemetic) was higher at 6-12 h in groups R and RD than in group D (p < 0.05) and at 12-24 h in group RD than in group D (p < 0.05). The incidence of nausea was lower at 6-12 h in groups R (p = 0.043) and RD (p = 0.003) compared to group D and at 12-24 h in group RD (p = 0.01) compared to group D. The severity of nausea was also significantly reduced at 6-12 h in groups R and RD compared to group D (p < 0.05). There were no clinically serious adverse events related to the studied drugs.ConclusionAntiemetic efficacy of the combination of ramosetron 0.3 mg and dexamethasone 8 mg for PONV was most superior, with 93% of the patients showing complete response at 12-24 h after surgery followed by ramosetron alone and dexamethasone alone.

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