The effect of ondansetron and atropine administration on postoperative nausea and vomiting and duration of recovery stay in patients who undergoing strabismus surgery

Nausea and vomiting is one of the most common complications after the strabismus surgery. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of atropine versus ondansetron administration on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and duration of recovery stay in patients undergoing this procedure.

In this case-control study, 90 patients between 3 to 30 years old who were candidates for elective strabismus surgery in Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, from February to April 2019, were randomly divided into three groups (placebo, ondansetron and atropine group). Patients who had taken hypnotic drugs while entering the operating room were excluded. In all patients, after arriving into the operating room and installation of standard monitoring equipment and peripheral vein implantation, anesthesia was induced by receiving 0.05 mg/kg midazolam, fentanyl 1 μg/kg and propofol 2.5 mg/kg. After induction of anesthesia, placebo group was compared with ondansetron group and atropine group that received 0.1 mg/kg ondansetron and 30 µg/kg atropine, respectively. The rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting, duration of recovery stay and satisfaction of recovery nurses were recorded and compared between groups.

There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in terms of mean age, weight, and gender. It seems that group matching is appropriate and there are no confounding factors for demographic variables. Administration of atropine and ondansetron significantly reduces the incidence of nausea and vomiting postoperatively and in recovery. There was no significant difference in the incidence of nausea and vomiting between the atropine and ondansetron groups. Duration of recovery stay was decreased after ondansetron and atropine administration versus control group. Postoperative laryngospasm and bronchospasm were not observed in any of the three groups after surgery and at the time of recovery. The satisfaction of recovery nurses in both atropine and ondansetron groups were higher than control group.

It seems that the administration of atropine as much as ondansetron can be effective in reducing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and the length of recovery stay in patients who undergoing strabismus surgery.