Comparison of Ondansetron And Ondansetron Plus Alprazolum for Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting Following Elective Caesarean Section

Abstract

Pregnancy & operation both causes anxiety. Excessive anxiety & noncompliance with fasting can increase gastric volume & predispose patients to postoperative nausea & vomiting. Prevention rather than treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting should be the anesthetist's aim.

It was a prospective double blind comparative study of 60 parturient scheduled for elective caesarean section under subarachnoid block to see the effect of anxiolytic drug on per & PONV in LUCS. We have carried out comparative study with alprazolum as anxiolytic agent & compared the action of Ondansetron with Ondansetron +alprazolum. Parturient at term or elective caesarean section included in the study were ASA grade I & II.

A total of 60 cards, 30 in each group were prepared by another person who was blind for the study. Every parturient was allowed to draw one card and grouped accordingly. Group A: Inj. Ondansetron (8mg), Group B: Oral alprazolum (0.25mg) +inj. ondansetron (8mg). After 20 minutes of prehydration under all aseptic precaution lumber puncture was performed with 25 gauge Quincke's needle in the L3-L4 or L4-L5 space in sitting position and 0.5% Hyperbaric Bupivacaine 2.5 ml (12.5 mg.) was injected within 10-12 sec. Immediately after administration of spinal anaesthesia fetal heart rate was noted for any changes in pulse rate, blood pressure, rate of respiration, discomfort and occurrence of side effects: shivering, nausea, vomiting was recorded every 2 minute for first 10 minutes, then at 10 minutes interval for remainder of the operation.

Per operative monitoring such as ECG, continuous SpO₂, non invasive arterial blood pressure was recorded each two minutes interval from time of intrathecal injection up to 10 minutes and then at 10 minutes interval until the end of operation. In the recovery room postoperative analgesia was provided with injection ketorolac tromethamine 30 mg IM on complaining pain and repeated in all patients if necessary. Presence of nausea and vomiting patients were interviewed at one hourly over the first 3 hours then at 3 hourly up to 24 hours postoperative period. Rescue antiemetic of prochlorparazine 10 mg I/M was given if vomiting occurs once, nausea for 10 minutes or at the patient request. Rest other parameters as for example; heart rate, BP, respiration and SpO₂ were also recorded at same interval. Patients were carefully observed for any adverse effects like headache, flushing, drowsiness or any other symptoms.

In the present study incidence of nausea and vomiting in group-A was one and in group-B was zero. Regarding hemodynamic changes (Pulse, Blood pressure) SpO₂, respiratory changes, during operation and 24 hours post operative period in some occasions significant changes were observed (P<0.05) but in other occasions no significant changes occur. No other adverse effect like headache, constipation and flushing during operation and 24 hours postoperative period were observed in this study. In this study we have found that Ondansetron reduces peroperative and postoperative nausea and vomiting. But addition of Alprazolum (an anxiolytic) to Ondansetron, the chance of nausea and vomiting was less.  

Journal of BSA, Vol. 21, No. 1, January 2008 43-49