Prevention of emesis after strabismus repair in children: a prospective, double-blinded, randomized comparison of droperidol versus ondansetron.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of ondansetron with droperidol in preventing postoperative emesis in children after strabismus repair.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind study.


METHODS
57 ASA physical status I and II children aged 3 to 14 years, undergoing outpatient strabismus repair in two separate study centers.


METHODS
Patients were randomized to receive either 0.15 mg/kg intravenous (i.v.) ondansetron or 0.075 mg/kg i.v. droperidol shortly after induction of anesthesia.


RESULTS
Number of episodes of emesis and times to discharge from the recovery room and ambulatory center were assessed. Twenty-nine (94%) of 31 children who received ondansetron and 21 (81%) of 26 children who received droperidol were emesis-free (p = NS). There were no significant differences in the number of episodes of emesis on the day after surgery or times to discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
Ondansetron is at least as effective as droperidol in reducing the frequency of emesis in children after strabismus repair, and it did not shorten times to discharge home. The low number of patients in our study may have masked a difference in effect between the two groups. The clinician should decide whether the increased cost of ondansetron justifies its use over other antiemetics.
Litman
R S
RS
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York, USA.
Wu
C L
CL
Lee
A
A
Griswold
J D
JD
Voisine
R
R
Marshall
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
D017294:Ondansetron; D004329:Droperidol