DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i09.032

Pages: 3311-3315

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most unpleasant and distressing symptoms which follow anaesthesia and surgery and lead to serious postoperative complications. PONV commonly occurs within 24 hours after surgery and can occur following general, regional, or local anaesthesia. Patients undergoing major abdominal surgery are especially prone to PONV, with reported incidences of 50-75%. Ninety patients aged between 20-60 years with ASA class I and II, posted for elective abdominal surgeries under spinal anaesthesia were randomly allocated to three groups- Group O [n=30] - Ondansetron (4mg), Group R [n=30] - Ramosetron (0.3mg), Group C [n=30] - Normal saline(only rescue anti- emetic).The incidence of PONV in control group was 40%, while the incidence in Group O and Group R was 16% and 6% respectively. Complete response was observed in 60%, 84% and 94% of patients in Group C, Group O and Group R respectively. The need for rescue antiemetic was significantly reduced with both antiemetic groups compared to control group. Ramosetron was more effective than ondansetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients at high risk undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy.