title: Influence of droperidol on nausea and vomiting during patient-controlled analgesia.
abstract: We have studied the addition of droperidol to morphine during patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) in 57 patients using PCA after abdominal hysterectomy. Patients in group 1 (control group) received placebo at induction of anaesthesia and a PCA containing morphine; those in group 2 received droperidol 1.25 mg and a PCA containing morphine and those in group 3 droperidol and a PCA containing droperidol 0.05 mg mg-1 of morphine. Patients in the control group suffered 51 episodes of nausea compared with 35 in the droperidol bolus group and 18 in the droperidol PCA group (P < 0.01). In the droperidol PCA group, only 10 doses of additional antiemetic therapy were required compared with 24 in the droperidol bolus group and 28 in the control group (P < 0.05). We did not observe side effects attributable to droperidol. We conclude that droperidol added to morphine in PCA reduces nausea and antiemetic requirements after abdominal hysterectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Barrow
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Redfern
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Urie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D004329:Droperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009325:Nausea / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011346:Prochlorperazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine; D004329:Droperidol; D011346:Prochlorperazine