title: Prophylactic antiemetic therapy with droperidol in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is relatively high when no prophylactic antiemetic is given. We have studied the efficacy of a commonly used and well-established antiemetic, droperidol, for the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing LC.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 60 patients received placebo (saline) or droperidol 50 microg.kg(-1) (maximum dose, 2.5 mg) intravenously immediately before the induction of anesthesia (n = 30 of each). A standard general anesthetic technique was employed throughout.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A complete response, defined as no PONV and no need for another rescue antiemetic medication during the first 24 h after anesthesia, was 57% and 83% in patients who had received placebo and droperidol 50 microg.kg(-1), respectively ( P < 0.05). No clinically serious adverse events were observed in any of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic antiemetic therapy with droperidol 50 microg.kg(-1) (maximum dose, 2.5 mg) is highly effective for preventing PONV after LC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Tsukuba Institute of Clinical Medicine, 2-1-1, Amakubo, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toyooka