Multi-dose Oral Ondansetron For Pediatric Gastroenteritis: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

The annual burden of acute gastroenteritis in the United States includes 17 million related episodes and 473,832 hospitalizations. Although oral-rehydration therapy is recommended for children with mild-to-moderate dehydration, it has historically been underused with emergency department (ED) clinicians being more likely to choose intravenous over oral rehydration especially when vomiting is a major symptom. In fact, nearly 95% of children undergoing oral rehydration in Canadian EDs present with recent vomiting. To address this issue, the investigators conducted both a landmark clinical trial and a recent meta-analysis that have demonstrated that the ED use of ondansetron, an anti-emetic, leads to reductions in intravenous rehydration and hospitalization and is cost-effective. However, the available data revealed some associations with increased diarrhea and no evidence of benefits associated with ongoing ondansetron use following ED discharge. Despite the lack of available data, the provision of multiple doses of ondansetron for home use has become routine in many EDs across North America. The literature has differing opinions on the topic of ongoing ondansetron use after ED discharge and given the limited evidence supporting its use, the potential side effects and additional cost, there is an urgent need to definitively evaluate the effect of multiple doses of ondansetron in children, focusing on family-centred, post-index visit outcomes.

A phase III, double-blind, parallel-design, randomized, placebo controlled trial to compare multi-dose oral Ondansetron with placebo as treatment for vomiting secondary to acute gastroenteritis (AGE), after Emergency Department discharge will be conducted. Children and youth, age 6 months to 17.99 years will be enrolled at six (6) Canadian Emergency Departments. The total number of participants recruited will be 1030. Participants will be enrolled at six (6) pediatric emergency departments across Canada.

Children who are provided a minimum of one dose of ondansetron as part of their routine clinical care AND meet other eligibility criteria will be randomized to receive an at-home kit with six (6) doses of Ondansetron Hydrochloride Dihydrate Oral Solution (4mg/5mL solution; dosed at 0.15mg/kg to a maximum single dose of 8mg) or equivalent volume in a Placebo Oral Solution to be administered no sooner than 8 hours after the initial clinical dose was provided by the ED physician. Over the subsequent 48 hours, the study intervention will be administered at a rate of 1 dose every 8 hours (q8h) to a maximum of 3 doses a day (in a 24-hour period (TID)) at the caregiver's discretion. Two (2) additional doses will be provided to the caregiver in case the child vomits a dose.