Combination of granisetron and droperidol in the prevention of nausea and vomiting after middle ear surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of granisetron-droperidol combination for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after middle ear surgery.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, double-blind study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
150 ASA physical status I patients (108 females, 42 males) scheduled for elective middle ear surgery.


METHODS
Patients received granisetron 40 micrograms/kg (n = 50), droperidol 20 micrograms/kg (n = 50), or granisetron 40 micrograms/kg plus droperidol 20 micrograms/kg (n = 50) intravenously immediately before induction of anesthesia.


RESULTS
A standard general anesthetic technique and postoperative analgesia were used throughout the study. A complete response, defined as no PONV and no need for another rescue antiemetic, from 0 to 3 hours after anesthesia occurred in 78%, 56%, and 94% of patients who had received granisetron, droperidol, and granisetron plus droperidol, respectively. The corresponding incidence between 3 and 24 hours after anesthesia was 80%, 52% and 94%. Thus, a complete response within the first 24-hour postanesthetic period was greater in patients receiving granisetron-droperidol combination than in those receiving granisetron alone or droperidol alone (p < 0.05). No clinically adverse events were observed in any of the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A combination of granisetron and droperidol is more effective than droperidol or granisetron alone for the prevention of PONV after middle ear surgery.
Fujii
Y
Y
Department of Anesthesiology, Toride Kyodo General Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan.
Saitoh
Y
Y
Tanaka
H
H
Toyooka
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D017829:Granisetron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000932:Antiemetics; D004329:Droperidol; D017829:Granisetron