comparison of ondansetrom and cyclizine as prophylaxis against postoperative nausea and vomiting in children

ABSTRACT

Nausea and vomiting is a relevant and common problem with unfavourable sequelae in children undergoing some plastic surgery procedures. There is a lack of anti-emetic trials performed in children, with only a few investigating the roles of the older anti-emetic agents such as cyclizine compared with newer ones such as ondansetron. This randomised, controlled, double-blind study examined the effectiveness of a single dose of ondansetron [0.1 mg.kg1] and cyclizine [20 mg] in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in 150 children [mean age 3.6 years] undergoing plastic genitourinary procedures. Rates of previous postoperative nausea and vomiting and motion sickness were comparable across the groups. Postoperative vomiting was significantly reduced with ondansetron prophylaxis [P= 0.006] but there was no detectable antiemetic effect with cyclizine. Furthermore, cyclizine caused pain on injection [P<0.001]