[Vomiting after gynecologic laparoscopy and under general anesthesia is associated with changes in excretion of serotonin metabolites].

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of 5-HT(3)-receptor antagonists suggests a role of serotonin in the pathogenesis of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). However, studies investigating the relationship between the turnover of serotonin and PONV were contradictory. Therefore we carried out a pilot study in order to find out whether results can be obtained that would justify further studies on a larger scale.

METHODS

A total of 22 patients scheduled for elective gynaecological laparoscopy were enrolled. A balanced anaesthesia using sufentanil, etomidate, cisatracurium, isoflurane and nitrous oxide was administered and 5-hydroxyindoleaceticacid (5-HIAA) concentrations in the urine were measured within the 24 h after surgery.

RESULTS

Only the patients that vomited postoperatively had a significant change in the concentrations of 5-HIAA over the time course investigated. However, comparison of urinary 5-HIAA concentrations of the group comprising patients that vomited with those that had no PONV did not reveal a significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study support further investigation of the relationship between serotonin and PONV and suggest that there may in fact be an association between PONV and increased serotonin turnover.