Background & Objectives: Post-operative nausea and vomitting is the second major problem in the post-operative period that causes patients much discomfort by itself and by prolonging the patients, stay in the hospital. In the present scenerio incidence of PONV has reduced to 20-30% due to refined techniques of anaesthesia, proper pre-operative preparation and by heeding the risk factors. However it remains a big problem. This study evaluates the protection offered by Palonosetrone and Granisetrone in the prevention of PONV in female patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery under general anaesthesia.

Materials and Methods: Total ninety-six premenopausal female patients (forty eight in each group) of aged  18 years of age of ASA class I/II and posted for gynaecological laparoscopic surgery under general anaesthesia were enrolled in this randomised, prospective, single blind, comparative, clinical trial. Group P received Inj.Palonosetrone 0.075mg and Group G received Inj.Granisetron 2.5 mg intravenously one minute before induction of anaesthesia. All episodes of PONV (complete response, nausea, retching, vomiting, emetic episode) were recorded for 0-3 hours in post-anaesthesia care unit and for 3-48 hours in postoperative ward.

Results: All the parameters and variables studied were subjected to statistical analysis using Chi-square test and unpaired student ‘T’ test. During 0-24 hours, the incidence of nausea and vomiting were comparable in both the groups. whereas, between 24-48 hours, incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly high in Group G as compared to Group P(p<0.01).

Conclusion: prophylactic single intravenous dose of palonosetron 0.075mg is more effective than granisetron 2.5mg for controlling postoperative nausea and vomiting between 24-48 hours post operatively with less incidence of side effects.