A comparison of prophylactic ondansetron hydrochloride and droperidol for strabismus repair in adults.
BACKGROUND
Prophylactic administration of an antiemetic is a common procedure for patients undergoing strabismus surgery. Droperidol and ondansetron hydrochloride are commonly used antiemetics. This study compared the rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in adult patients undergoing strabismus surgery with prophylactically administered Droperidol or ondansetron hydrochloride.


METHODS
A double-masked, randomized, prospective study was conducted comparing droperidol with ondansetron hydrochloride when administered prophylactically to adults undergoing strabismus surgery.


RESULTS
Forty-five patients entered the study with a mean age of 30 years. Twenty percent of patients had nausea immediately postoperatively and 37% had nausea before discharge with no significant differences between groups. Overall rate of emesis, time in the recovery room, and time to discharge was not significantly different between the droperidol and ondansetron hydrochloride group.


CONCLUSIONS
No real differences in the ability to prevent PONV between the two medications were found in this study.
Doe
E A
EA
Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6200, USA.
Jones
P
P
O'Hara
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000932:Antiemetics; D017294:Ondansetron; D004329:Droperidol