Randomised double-blind comparison of ondansetron and droperidol to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting associated with patient-controlled analgesia.
In a randomised, double-blind trial, we compared the use of ondansetron and droperidol for the prevention of nausea and vomiting after total abdominal hysterectomy, during patient-controlled analgesia with morphine. One hundred and forty-two patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups. All patients received a standardised general anaesthetic and postoperative analgesic regimen. One group received ondansetron 4 mg at induction of anaesthesia, and ondansetron 0.13 mg with each 1-mg bolus dose of morphine. The other group received droperidol 0.5 mg at induction and droperidol 0.05 mg per 1-mg bolus dose of morphine. Results were available for 137 patients. During the first 24 h after surgery, prophylaxis was successful in 26 of 66 patients given ondansetron (39%) compared with 36 of 71 patients given droperidol (51%). This difference was not statistically significant (Chi-squared = 1.766, p = 0.18). We conclude that in the regimens studied, ondansetron is not more effective than droperidol at preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Millo
J
J
Specialist Registrar, Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
Siddons
M
M
Innes
R
R
Laurie
P S
PS
D000328:Adult; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000932:Antiemetics; D017294:Ondansetron; D009020:Morphine; D004329:Droperidol