In this month's Korean Journal of Anesthesiologists, Cho et al. [5] evaluated the effect of palonosetron on the injection pain of rocuronium. The authors suggest that palonosetron is effective in reducing intravenous injection pain due to rocuronium. Palonosetron is a second-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist with a high receptor-binding affinity. It is mainly used to prevent nausea and vomiting related to surgery and chemotherapy. Ondansetron effectively reduces intravenous injection pain from rocuronium [6]. Ondansetron has an action similar to that of lidocaine in terms of blocking sodium channel. We hesitate to use ondansetron during induction because of its short duration. Ondansetron has a plasma half-life of 4 hours because of genetic polymorphisms of the P450 enzyme which lead to decreased efficacy by ultrarapid metabolism [7]. Ondansetron seems to be more effective when given at the end of surgery rather than immediately after induction of anesthesia because of these polymorphisms [8]. While most serotonin antagonists have similar effects, palonosetron might be an exception. Palonosetron has a long half-life of about 40 hours. Therefore, it can be used during induction. If these beneficial properties are established, palonosetron will be a first choice drug to prevent injection pain of rocuronium.

Many surgeries are currently performed on an outpatient basis. Postoperative nausea and vomiting is a major cause of delayed discharge and unanticipated readmission. To date, the incidence of postdischarge nausea and vomiting has not been studied on a large scale. Note that shorter-acting drugs are not as effective and antiemetics with a longer duration of action appear to be favorable. Palonosetron may be a reasonable choice for postdischarge nausea and vomiting. However, proof for this has not yet been reported.

The manufacturer recommends that palonosetron be used with caution in patients with prolongation of cardiac conduction intervals, particularly QTc. Such patients include those with electrolyte abnormalities and those taking antiarrhythmic drugs [9]. Although the prescribing information recommends caution in patients at risk of QTc prolongation, palonosetron has been safely used to patients with cardiac problems [10].

None of the currently used drugs for prophylaxis of injection pain are capable of completely eliminating the incidence of rocuronium injection pain. When considering a multimodal approach, palonosetron can be recommended as an essential component. Palonosetron might relieve injection pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting in one treatment.