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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research

Fosaprepitant for postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery: a randomised trial.

  • 2023-10
  • British journal of anaesthesia 131(4)
    • Qingshan Huang
    • Fan Wang
    • Chujun Liang
    • Yabin Huang
    • Yingyin Zhao
    • Chuling Liu
    • Chunmeng Lin
    • Lizhen Zhang
    • Shaoli Zhou
    • Qiuling Wang
    • Shan Li
    • Ruirui Gong
    • Qian Wu
    • Yuting Gu
    • Jinxin Zhang
    • Tongfeng Luo
    • Wei Wang
    • Song Zhang
    • Nassirou Bizo Mailoga
    • Kai Wang
    • Sanqing Jin
    • Yang Zhao

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 1,154
Population
1154 participants at high risk of PONV and undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery
Methods
Randomised, controlled, double-blind trial, fosaprepitant 150 mg i.v. vs placebo, both with dexamethasone 5 mg i.v. and palonosetron 0.075 mg i.v., before anaesthesia induction
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
first 24 postoperative hours
Funding
Unclear
  • Large Human Trial

Background

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a major problem after surgery. Even with double prophylactic therapy including dexamethasone and a 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist, the incidence is still high in many at-risk patients. Fosaprepitant, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, is an effective antiemetic, but its efficacy and safety in combination antiemetic therapy for preventing PONV remain unclear.

Methods

In this randomised, controlled, double-blind trial, 1154 participants at high risk of PONV and undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery were randomly assigned to either a fosaprepitant group (n=577) receiving fosaprepitant 150 mg i.v. dissolved in 0.9% saline 150 ml, or a placebo group (n=577) receiving 0.9% saline 150 ml before anaesthesia induction. Dexamethasone 5 mg i.v. and palonosetron 0.075 i.v. mg were each administered in both groups. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV (defined as nausea, retching, or vomiting) during the first 24 postoperative hours.

Results

The incidence of PONV during the first 24 postoperative hours was lower in the fosaprepitant group (32.4% vs 48.7%; adjusted risk difference -16.9% [95% confidence interval: -22.4 to -11.4%]; adjusted risk ratio 0.65 [95% CI: 0.57 to 0.76]; P<0.001). There were no differences in severe adverse events between groups, but the incidence of intraoperative hypotension was higher (38.0% vs 31.7%, P=0.026) and intraoperative hypertension (40.6% vs 49.2%, P=0.003) was lower in the fosaprepitant group.

Conclusions

Fosaprepitant added to dexamethasone and palonosetron reduced the incidence of PONV in patients at high risk of PONV undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery. Notably, it increased the incidence of intraoperative hypotension.

Clinical trial registration

NCT04853147.

Research Insights

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