Palonosetron and granisetron in postoperative nausea vomiting: A randomized double-blind prospective study

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common occurrence after laparoscopic surgeries. A number of pharmacological agents (antihistamines, butyrophenones, dopamine receptor antagonists) have been tried of which the 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonists are devoid of most side effects and highly effective in prevention and treatment of PONV. Thus, we evaluated the effectiveness of granisetron and palonosetron in prevention of PONV after laparoscopic surgeries under general anesthesia.

We conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of granisetron and palonosetron, to compare the duration of action and side effects if any, in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia.

This was a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, comparative study. Sixty patients (18-65 years of age) of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I and II undergoing elective laparoscopic surgeries were considered.

They were randomly allocated into one of the two groups (Group G and Group P) of thirty patients each. Group G received injection granisetron 0.05 mg/kg; Group P received injection palonosetron 1.5 mcg/kg intravenous bolus 30 min before the induction of anesthesia.

All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS^® statistical package version 18.0 (Chicago: SPSS Inc). Two independent sample t-test was used for quantitative data, and the χ² or Fisher's exact test was used for qualitative data. A difference was regarded as statistically significant at a P < 0.05.

The need for rescue antiemetic was significantly lower in Group P in the 24-72 h postoperative period (ρ - 0.007). The PONV score was significantly less in Group P in the same period (ρ - 0.008). The incidence of side effects was statistically insignificant in both the groups (ρ - 0.999).

Prophylactic therapy with palonosetron is more effective than granisetron in the prevention of PONV after laparoscopic surgeries under general anesthesia.