You are seeing this message because your Web browser does not support basic Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing and what you can do to make your experience on this site better.


ABOUT ARCHIVES
Advanced Search

Welcome   | My Account | E-mail Alerts | Access Rights | Sign In


  Vol. 158 No. 19, October 26, 1998 TABLE OF CONTENTS
  Archives
  •  Online Features
  Original Investigation
 This Article
 •Full text
 •PDF
 •Correction
 •Send to a friend
 • Save in My Folder
 •Save to citation manager
 •Permissions
 Citing Articles
 •Citation map
 •Citing articles on HighWire
 •Citing articles on ISI (17)
 •Contact me when this article is cited
 Related Content
 •Similar articles in this journal
 Topic Collections
 •Surgery
 •Orthopedic Surgery
 •Alert me on articles by topic

Efficacy of Ondansetron and Prochlorperazine for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Total Hip Replacement or Total Knee Replacement Procedures

A Randomized, Double-blind, Comparative Trial

Jack J. Chen, PharmD; David G. Frame, PharmD; T. Jeffery White, PharmD

Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:2124-2128.

Background  Limited data are available on the efficacy of ondansetron hydrochloride compared with prochlorperazine maleate for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

Objective  To evaluate the comparative efficacy of ondansetron and prochlorperazine for the prophylaxis of PONV in patients undergoing total hip replacement or total knee replacement procedures.

Methods  A randomized, double-blind, comparative trial was conducted at a tertiary care, university hospital. Seventy-eight patients undergoing elective total hip or total knee replacement procedures received a single dose of ondansetron hydrochloride (n=37), 4 mg intravenously, or prochlorperazine maleate (n=41), 10 mg intramuscularly, at the end of the surgical procedure. Rescue therapy was administered every 4 hours as needed during the initial 48 hours. Primary outcome measures were the incidences and severity of PONV. Secondary outcome measures included the number of rescue antiemetic doses required, number of physical therapy cancellations because of PONV, length of hospital stay, and cost of antiemetic agents administered.

Results  The incidence of nausea was significantly greater in the ondansetron group compared with the prochlorperazine group (81% vs 56%; odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-9.4) as was the severity of nausea (P=.04). Multivariate analysis identified administration of ondansetron, history of PONV, obesity, and female sex as risk factors for a nausea event. The incidence of vomiting tended to be greater in the ondansetron group (49% vs 32%; odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-5.0). The need for rescue antiemetic therapy was also greater in the ondansetron group (46% vs 27%; odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-6.0). The mean antiemetic drug cost per patient was significantly greater for the ondansetron group ($47.56 vs $2.47; P<.001). However, the proportion of patients who were unable to participate in physical therapy because of PONV and the median length of hospital stay were similar in both groups.

Conclusion  Prochlorperazine is associated with superior efficacy and significant cost savings compared with ondansetron for the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing total hip and total knee replacement procedures.


From the Department of Pharmacy, Rush–Presbyterian–St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Ill (Drs Chen and Frame), and the Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles (Dr White). Dr Chen is now with the Department of Pharmacy, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, Calif.



THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia Guidelines for the Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Gan et al.
Anesth. Analg. 2007;105:1615-1628.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Evidence-based review of the black-box warning for droperidol
Jackson et al.
Am J Health Syst Pharm 2007;64:1174-1186.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Wilhelm et al.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2007;41:68-78.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Are newer, more expensive pharmacotherapy options associated with superior symptom control compared to less costly agents used in a collaborative practice setting?
Weschules et al.
AM J HOSP PALLIAT CARE 2006;23:135-149.
ABSTRACT  

Evidence-based management of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a review: [Le traitement des nausees et des vomissements postoperatoires fonde sur des donnees probantes : une revue]
Habib and Gan
Canadian J. Anesthesia 2004;51:326-341.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Consensus Guidelines for Managing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Gan et al.
Anesth. Analg. 2003;97:62-71.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Comparison of Dexamethasone, Ondansetron, and Dexamethasone plus Ondansetron as Prophylactic Antiemetic and Antipruritic Therapy in Patients Receiving Intrathecal Morphine for Major Orthopedic Surgery
Szarvas et al.
Anesth. Analg. 2003;97:259-263.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  





HOME | CURRENT ISSUE | PAST ISSUES | TOPIC COLLECTIONS | CME | SUBMIT | SUBSCRIBE | HELP
CONDITIONS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY | CONTACT US | SITE MAP
 
© 1998 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.