Ondansetron, clinical development for postoperative nausea and vomiting: current studies and future directions.

The clinical development of ondansetron for the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting has been progressing for 5 years, and continues as new directions of research are being addressed. Large multicentre studies have demonstrated the efficacy of ondansetron in the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting, but no large comparator studies have been reported. Several studies are now being undertaken to compare ondansetron with other currently used antiemetics such as droperidol and metoclopramide, assessing efficacy, safety, pharmacoeconomic, and quality of life parameters. The majority of studies to date have been performed in gynaecological surgery patients receiving general anaesthesia--a population that experiences a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Clinical development of ondansetron is therefore progressing to establish its efficacy in a wider surgical population, including paediatrics, the elderly, non-gynaecological surgery, and as retreatment in patients with failed prophylactic antiemetic therapy.