Purpose: Ramosetron can be administered orally as well as intravenously. We investigated the effect of oral ramosetron on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopy.
Methods: One hundred and twenty women were allocated randomly to one of three groups (n = 40 in each) to receive saline (control), 0.1 mg oral ramosetron (PO), or 0.3 mg IV ramosetron (IV). Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol and remifentanil was used in all patients.
Results: The incidence of complete response (no PONV, no rescue) in the control, IV, and PO groups was: 65%, 90%, and 87.5%, respectively, during the first 1 h; and 67.5%, 87.5%, and 80%, respectively, during 1 to 24 h.
Conclusion: The effect of oral ramosetron 0.1 mg was comparable to that of IV ramosetron 0.3 mg on the prevention of PONV in women undergoing gynecological laparoscopy with TIVA. Both the oral and IV forms were effective at preventing PONV during the first 1 h after surgery.