title: The prophylactic effect of haloperidol plus dexamethasone on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Haloperidol, a major tranquilizer, has been found to have a potent antiemetic effect on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), but the prophylactic effect of haloperidol plus dexamethasone on PONV has not been evaluated. We evaluated the prophylactic effect of haloperidol plus dexamethasone to either given alone, placebo or droperidol on PONV in patients undergoing a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred adult women (n = 80 in each of five groups) scheduled for a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo, and positive-control study. Fifteen minutes after the induction of anesthesia, patients received an i.v. injection of either saline (group S), droperidol 1.25 mg (group D), haloperidol 2 mg (group H), dexamethasone 5 mg (group Dx), or haloperidol 2 mg plus dexamethasone 5 mg (group H + Dx) to prevent PONV. The occurrence of PONV and medication-related side effects were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidences of PONV (0-24 h) in the D (36%), H (37%), Dx (38%), and H + Dx (19%) groups were significantly lower than in the S group (65%; P < 0.05 for each comparison). The H + Dx group had the lowest incidence of PONV (19%; P < 0.05 for each comparison) of the five study groups. No differences were found between the D, H, and Dx groups. Also, no differences were found among the five groups in the side effects of QT prolongation, intensity of postoperative pain, level of sedation, and occurrence of extra-pyramidal symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic haloperidol 2 mg plus dexamethasone 5 mg produced a greater reduction in the incidence of PONV than did either drug used alone, placebo or droperidol without increasing perioperative adverse outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Ja-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Shieh
authors.forename: Jann-Inn
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Tzeng
authors.forename: Jen-Yin
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shung-Tai
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Jhi-Joung
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal / Q000379:methods*; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006220:Haloperidol; D004329:Droperidol