Prophylactic antiemetic therapy with a combination of granisetron and dexamethasone in patients undergoing middle ear surgery

Abstract

We have compared the efficacy of granisetron in combination with dexamethasone with each drug alone in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after middle ear surgery. In a randomized, double-blind study, 120 patients (85 females) received granisetron 3 mg, dexamethasone 8 mg or granisetron 3 mg with dexamethasone 8 mg i.v. (n = 40 in each group), immediately before induction of anaesthesia. A standardized general anaesthetic technique was used. A complete response, defined as no PONV and no need for another rescue antiemetic during the first 3 h after anaesthesia, was recorded in 83%, 50% and 98% of patients who had received granisetron, dexamethasone and granisetron-dexamethasone, respectively. The corresponding incidences during the next 21 h after anaesthesia were 80%, 55% and 98% (P < 0.05; overall Fisher's exact probability test). In summary, prophylactic use of combined granisetron and dexamethasone was more effective than each antiemetic alone for the prevention of PONV after middle ear surgery.