Investigation of Ondansetron's impact on post-appendectomy symptoms

Ondansetron mitigates post-appendectomy nausea and vomiting without affecting pain levels.

Common complications after acute appendicitis surgery encompass pain and vomiting, which can delay recovery and cause discomfort. Hence, this study assessed whether Ondansetron (serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist), typically used for nausea, can also alleviate pain and other postoperative symptoms.

In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, 80 patients (aged 18–60 years) undergoing appendectomy under general anesthesia were divided into two groups. Group A received 2 ml of 4 mg Ondansetron intravenously (IV), while Group B received 2 ml of normal saline IV as a placebo. Pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), nausea and vomiting were determined based on clinical symptoms, and shivering and sedation were gauged using the Bedside Shivering Assessment Scale (BSAS) and Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours post-surgery.

Compared to placebo, Ondansetron markedly reduced pain only at 2 hours post-surgery and nausea and vomiting at 2 and 6 hours, as shown in Table 1 below.

At various time points, there was no difference between the study groups in terms of pethidine consumption or sedation levels.

Ondansetron effectively minimized postoperative nausea and vomiting after appendectomy but did not significantly impact pain levels.