Low-dose propofol to prevent nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of administering a low dose of propofol at the end of surgery in preventing postoperative nausea/vomiting in women undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.


METHODS
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 90 patients received intravenous injections of a placebo or propofol at 2 different low doses, 0.25 mg/kg or 0.5 mg/kg. All episodes of nausea, retching, or vomiting were then recorded for 24 hours.


RESULTS
The percentages of patients experiencing nausea, retching, or vomiting were 67% in the placebo group, 60% in the propofol 0.25 mg/kg group (P=0.39), and 33% in the propofol 0.5 mg/kg group (P=0.009). A significant difference in the rates of nausea/vomiting was found between the 2 propofol groups (P=0.03). No adverse events attributed to the study drug were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Prophylactic therapy with 0.5 mg/kg of propofol was found to be effective in preventing nausea/vomiting in patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.
Fujii
Yoshitaka
Y
Department of Anesthesiology, Ushiku Aiwa General Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan. yfujii@med.toho-u.ac.jp
Itakura
Michiyo
M
D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007564:Japan; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000932:Antiemetics; D015742:Propofol