Effect of Increased Ondansetron Use for Pediatric Acute Gastroenteritis

Over a 10-year period, median ondansetron use increased from 0.1% to 42%, without a commensurate decline in use of IV rehydration.

Has the increase in ondansetron use in children with acute gastroenteritis reduced use of intravenous (IV) rehydration and hospital admissions? To find out, investigators retrospectively studied 804,000 children (mean age, 3 years) presenting with acute gastroenteritis to one of 18 hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System between 2002 and 2012.

The median institutional rate of ondansetron use in children with acute gastroenteritis increased from 0.1% in 2002 to 42.2% in 2011. Ondansetron use was classified as low (<5% of patients), medium (5%–25%), or high (>25%). There was no association between level of ondansetron use and rates of IV rehydration or hospital admission. Compared with periods of low ondansetron use, periods of hi…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Effect of Increased Ondansetron Use for Pediatric Acute Gastroenteritis

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Reviewing Author