The finding is important, the researchers said, because despite decades of advances in surgical technique and improved anesthetic agents, one out of three patients will still experience nausea and vomiting after surgery. These events not only influence patient satisfaction with their procedure, but can also prolong recovery, lengthen hospital stays and negatively impact the surgery itself, the researchers said.

"There are more than thirty-five million surgical procedures performed each year in the U.S., so postoperative nausea and vomiting is an extremely important health care issue," said Tong Joo (TJ) Gan, M.D., Duke anesthesiologist who led the trial. He presented the results of the trial Oct. 24, 2005, at the annual scientific sessions of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in Atlanta.

"Vomiting is also an issue that most physicians do not take seriously enough -- they see it as a short-term nuisance that will soon pass," Gan said. "However, studies have shown that nausea and vomiting after surgery is the major factor influencing whether or not patients are satisfied with their surgery. When I talk to patients before their surgeries, most are more afraid of the vomiting afterwards than they are of the pain."

"Most of the anti-emetic drugs we have today just aren't that effective in controlling this side effect," Gan continued. "So, an effective drug to treat postoperative vomiting could be a great advance for our patients."

Compared to existing drugs, the NK-1 receptor antagonist blocks at a different site the cascade of biological signals leading to nausea and vomiting. Specifically, 95 percent of patients taking the
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Contact: Richard Merritt
Merri006@mc.duke.edu
919-684-4148
Duke University Medical Center
24-Oct-2005