Abstract
Nausea and vomiting during cesarean delivery are distressing to the patients and a disturbance to the surgeon. Propofol is believed to have antiemetic properties. In recent studies, continuous infusion of a subhypnotic dose of propofol was effective for reducing emetic symptoms during cesarean delivery without clinical serious adverse events. Ondansetron had been used prophylactic to reduce the incidence of intraoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing cesarean section under regional anesthesia.
60 ASA I and II parturient, between the age of 21 and 38, scheduled for elective cesarean delivery were enrolled. Patients were randomized to receive either propofol 1mg kg-1
hr-1(GP) or ondansetron 4 mg (GO). The patients were evaluated for the presence of nausea, retching and vomiting. Also, severity of nausea, satisfaction with the study drug and degree of sedation, was evaluated at the end of the observation period.
Patients with complete response (no nausea or vomiting) were significantly high in GO group compared to GP. Incidence of nausea, retching, and vomiting in GP was high and significant when compared to GO. No patient in GO need rescue, while two patients in GP were received ondansetron 4 mg as rescue.
Ondansetron 4 mg is more effective than propofol 1 mg kg-1hr-1 to prevent emetic symptoms during and postdelivery in patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Moreover, ondansetron reduced requirement for further rescue antiemetic which may provides great benefit.