The intraperitoneal ondansetron for postoperative pain management following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A proof-of-concept, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Main Authors: Abdelaziz, Doaa, Boraii, Sherif, Cheema, Ejaz, Elnaem, Mohamed Hassan Abdelaziz, Omar, Tamer, Abdelrauof, Amr, Mansour, Noha
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: Elsevier 2021
• Subjects: RC803 Specialties of Internal Medicine-Diseases of The Digestive System. Gastroenterology; RD81 Anesthesiology; RS Pharmacy and materia medica
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/89991/7/89991_The%20intraperitoneal%20ondansetron%20for%20postoperative%20pain%20management.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/89991/13/89991_The%20intraperitoneal%20ondansetron%20for%20postoperative_SCOPUS.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/89991/14/89991_The%20intraperitoneal%20ondansetron%20for%20postoperative_WOS.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/89991/; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332221005072?via%3Dihub#!; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111725
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Background Pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains a major challenge. Ondansetron blocks sodium channels and may have local anesthetic properties. Aims To investigate the effect of intraperitoneal administration of ondansetron for postoperative pain management as an adjuvant to intravenous acetaminophen in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods Patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into two groups (n = 25 each) to receive either intraperitoneal ondansetron or saline injected in the gall bladder bed at the end of the procedure. The primary outcome was the difference in pain from baseline to 24-h post-operative assessed by comparing the area under the curve of visual analog score between the two groups. Results The derived area under response curve of visual analog scores in the ondansetron group (735.8 ± 418.3) was 33.97% lower than (p = 0.005) that calculated for the control group (1114.4 ± 423.9). The need for rescue analgesia was significantly lower in the ondansetron (16%) versus in the control group (54.17%) (p = 0.005), indicating better pain control. The correlation between the time for unassisted mobilization and the area under response curve of visual analog scores signified the positive analgesic influence of ondansetron (rs = 0.315, p = 0.028). The frequency of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in patients who received ondansetron than that reported in the control group (p = 0.023 (8 h), and 0.016 (24 h) respectively). Conclusions The added positive impact of ondansetron on postoperative pain control alongside its anti-emetic effect made it a unique novel option for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.