A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ramosetron for preventing nausea and vomiting during termination of pregnancy

Women undergoing general anesthesia for dilatation and curettage have a high risk for postoperative nausea and vomiting. We therefore evaluated the efficacy and safety of ramosetron, a new compound having serotonin receptor antagonist activity, for preventing nausea and vomiting in termination of pregnancy. Eighty women scheduled for dilatation and curettage received, in a randomized, double-blind manner, an intravenous placebo or ramosetron at three different doses (0.15 mg, 0.3 mg, 0.6 mg) at the end of surgery (n = 20 per group). Emetic episodes and safety were assessed. The percentage of patients who were emesis-free (no nausea, no retching, no vomiting) during 0-24 h after anesthesia was 55% with ramosetron 0.15 mg (P = 0.5), 85% with ramosetron 0.3 mg (P = 0.02), and 90% with ramosetron 0.6 mg (P = 0.007), compared with 50% in the placebo group. No clinically serious adverse events due to the study drugs were observed in any group. Our results suggest that ramosetron 0.3 mg is an effective antiemetic for prophylaxis against emetic symptoms after dilatation and curettage. Increasing the dose to 0.6 mg provides no further benefit.