Intestinal obstruction in pregnancy by ondansetron

Background: Ondansetron use for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy has increased in the last years, although its maternal and fetal safety is not conclusive. Case: We describe a case of intestinal obstruction in a pregnant woman with severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy treated with ondansetron, which is known to slow gut motility. Conclusion: The spontaneous reporting system of WHO confirms that this potentially life threatening complication is more common than what the peer review literature may suggest and needs to be looked into carefully, especially in view of the wide spread off-label use for NVP.