Pharmacological Strategies for Postdischarge Nausea and Vomiting: Evidence-based Review Update

Purpose

Evaluate the effectiveness of various drugs in preventing postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PDNV).

Design

Systematic review.

Methods

A search for evidence was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Collaboration, and Google Scholar and gray literature. Only randomized controlled trials examining a pharmacological agent to prevent PDNV were included in the study. The quality appraisal of the literature was conducted using the proposed algorithm described in the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Evidence Level and Quality Guide.

Findings

A total of 8 randomized controlled trials involving 1,441 patients were analyzed. The efficacy of pharmacological agents, including dexamethasone, olanzapine, ondansetron, palonosetron, ramosetron, promethazine, and casopitant in the prevention of PDNV, varied. Additionally, a combination of two or more drugs is a more effective therapy than using a single drug in mitigating PDNV. The review also underscored the individual patient factors that can play a significant role in identifying appropriate prevention and treatment modalities.

Conclusions

There is limited evidence on the efficacy of pharmacological agents in preventing PDNV. The scarcity of large-scale, clinical trials specifically focusing on PDNV restricts the ability to recommend prophylactic drug therapy for reducing its incidence.