Ondansetron versus dehydrobenzoperidol and metoclopramide for management of postoperative nausea in laparoscopic surgery patients.
BACKGROUND
In this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, we compared the efficacy of ondansetron versus dehydrobenzoperidol (droperidol) or metoclopramide in the treatment of established postoperative nausea and vomiting in 200 adult patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-three American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I and II patients satisfied inclusion criteria. Fifty-seven patients received ondansetron 4 mg (group O), 57 patients were given droperidol 1.25 mg (group D), and 59 patients received metoclopramide 10 mg (group M). Antiemetic efficacy was compared at 10 minutes and 30 minutes after the administration of the study drug.


RESULTS
At 10 minutes, nausea scores in group O dropped from 8.3 to 3.7, in group D from 8.5 to 5, and in group M from 8.4 to 6.7; (P < 0.05 between the three groups). At 30 minutes, nausea scores were 1.3 in group O, 1.7 in group D, and 5 in group M; (P < 0.05 between group M and the other two groups). In the droperidol group, 25% of patients developed sedation. Patient satisfaction was best with ondansetron.


CONCLUSIONS
Both ondansetron and droperidol were more effective in the treatment of established postoperative nausea and vomiting than was metoclopramide. However, patients were satisfied best with ondansetron, which acts faster and causes less sedation than droperidol.
Dabbous
A
A
Department of Anesthesiology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Khoury
S J
SJ
Chehab
I R
IR
Bartelmaos
T
T
Khoury
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014839:Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy
D000932:Antiemetics; D017294:Ondansetron; D008787:Metoclopramide; D004329:Droperidol