Comparison of granisetron, droperidol, and metoclopramide for prevention of postoperative vomiting in children with a history of motion sickness undergoing tonsillectomy.
OBJECTIVE
A history of motion sickness is one of the patient-related factors associated with postoperative vomiting (POV). This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of granisetron, droperidol, and metoclopramide for the prevention of POV after tonsillectomy in children with a history of motion sickness.


METHODS
In a prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial, 90 pediatric patients, aged 4 to 10 years, received granisetron, 40 microg/kg; droperidol, 50 microg/kg; or metoclopramide, 0.25 mg/kg (n = 30 of each) intravenously after an inhalation induction of anesthesia. Emetic episodes and safety assessments were performed during the first 24 hours after anesthesia.


RESULTS
Twenty-two of 30 patients (73%) who had received granisetron were emesis free during the first 24 hours after surgery as compared with 7 of 30 (23%) who had received droperidol (P <.05) or 6 of 30 (20%) who had received metoclopramide (P <.05). No clinically serious adverse events were observed in any of the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Prophylactic therapy with granisetron is superior to droperidol or metoclopramide for the prevention of POV after tonsillectomy in children with a history of motion sickness.
Fujii
Y
Y
Department of Anesthesiology, Toride Kyodo General Hospital, Toride City, Ibaraki, Japan.
Tanaka
H
H
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D017829:Granisetron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009041:Motion Sickness; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014068:Tonsillectomy
D000932:Antiemetics; D004329:Droperidol; D017829:Granisetron; D008787:Metoclopramide