Premium
Postoperative vomiting: Effect of morphine in combination with inhalational anesthesia on emesis in ferrets
Author(s) -
Horn Charles C,
Meyers Kelly,
Pak Diana,
Nagy Allysa,
Sert Nathalie Percie,
Apfel Christian C,
Williams Brian A
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.1075.10
Subject(s) - vomiting , medicine , anesthesia , isoflurane , antiemetic , morphine , anesthetic , opioid , nausea , cisplatin , postoperative nausea and vomiting , chemotherapy , surgery , receptor
Although partially controlled with antiemetic drugs, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) continue to be a problem for many patients. Clinical research suggests that opioid analgesics and inhalational anesthesia are the main triggers of PONV. The aim of this study was to develop an animal model of postoperative vomiting. Ferrets were tested with several doses of morphine and the inhalational anesthetic isoflurane. In addition, one group received cisplatin, a cancer chemotherapy agent, as a positive control. Morphine produced a dose response on vomiting, with maximal responses at 0.9 mg/kg (sc). Isoflurane (2% for 6 h) failed to induce emesis and was also not associated with an increased frequency in emesis when combined with an emetic threshold dose of morphine (0.1 mg/kg, sc). The amplitude of emetic contractions was larger following a high dose of cisplatin (10 mg/kg, ip) compared to morphine (0.9 mg/kg, sc). This suggests that cisplatin produces a higher level of emetic intensity than morphine. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of the opioid component of postoperative vomiting. However, the ferret does not appear useful in characterizing the inhalational component of postoperative vomiting that is known in humans. (Supported by the Univ. Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Dept. Anesthesiology)