Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Elective Hysterectomy: A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Outcomes Trial of Aprepitant NK-1-Receptor Antagonist

Jaime B. Long^1*, Luisa Galdi¹, Joseph G. Hentz², John B. Leslie³, Paul M. Magtibay⁴, Rosanne M. C. Kho⁴, Jeffrey L. Cornella⁴, Javier F. Magrina⁴

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Reading Health System, West Reading, USA.
²Department of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, USA.
³Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, USA.
⁴Department of Gynecologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojanes.2014.412043                

Abstract

Objectives: Current prophylactic interventions fail to completely eliminate postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) for a substantial number of patients. A new antiemetic (aprepitant) has been effective in preventing chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). We hypothesized that adding aprepitant to our current prophylactic regimen of dexamethasone and ondansetron would reduce the incidence of PONV in our elective hysterectomy population. Methods: 256 patients undergoing elective hysterectomy were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled trial. Subjects received either oral aprepitant 40 mg or oral placebo 30 minutes prior to induction of standardized anesthesia. The primary outcome was vomiting within the first 24 hours after surgery. Postoperative nausea, vomiting, and use of rescue antiemetics were documented over a 24 h period. Additionally, adverse events, hospitalization days, and readmissions for PONV were compared. Results: There was a trend towards reduction of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the aprepitant group. Nausea and vomiting were noted for 24% and 17% of women in the aprepitant group versus 38% and 29% of women in the Placebo group, respectively. Supplemental antiemetic medication was used by 42% of women in the aprepitant group versus 60% of women in the Placebo group. No adverse events were substantially more common in the aprepitant group than the Placebo group. Conclusions: Preemptive use of aprepitant prior to elective hysterectomy may reduce the incidence of PONV and diminish the need for rescue antiemetics postoperatively. Further studies with larger power are needed to confirm the trends observed in this study.

Keywords

Hysterectomy, Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting, Aprepitant

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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