The role of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a frequent complication of surgery. Guidelines recommend using a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (eg, ondansetron, dolasetron, granisetron) combined with a second agent (eg, dexamethasone) for patients at moderate to high risk for PONV. Although all 5-HT3 antagonists are effective, ondansetron and granisetron have been found to be effective at substantially lower doses than those approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Metabolism of granisetron differs from metabolism of other 5-HT, antagonists, so it is less likely to adversely interact with other medications. This article explains the clinical pharmacology of 5-HT3 antagonists and provides recommendations for nursing management of PONV.