title: Prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting with combined granisetron and droperidol in women undergoing thyroidectomy.
abstract: We have compared the efficacy and safety of combined granisetron and droperidol with each anti-emetic alone for preventing post-operative nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy. In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 180 women received granisetron 40 micrograms kg-1, droperidol 20 micrograms kg-1, or granisetron 40 micrograms kg-1 plus droperidol 20 micrograms kg-1 (n = 60 of each) intravenously immediately before induction of anaesthesia. A standard general anaesthetic technique and post-operative analgesia were used. A complete response, defined as no post-operative nausea and vomiting and no need for another rescue anti-emetic, during the first 24 h after anaesthesia occurred in 88%, 60% and 98% of patients who had received granisetron, droperidol and granisetron plus droperidol (P < 0.05; overall Fisher's exact probability test). No clinically important adverse events due to the drugs were observed in any of the groups. In summary, prophylactic use of combined granisetron and droperidol is more effective than each drug alone for the prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting in female patients undergoing thyroidectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Tsukuba Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tsukuba City, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saitoh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toyooka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D017829:Granisetron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004329:Droperidol; D017829:Granisetron; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists