Droperidol use in pediatric emergency department patients.
BACKGROUND
Droperidol is a controversial drug with multiple clinical applications. This report examines the use of droperidol in pediatric emergency department (ED) patients.


METHODS
An observational structured chart review was conducted of patients 21 years or younger receiving droperidol as part of their ED treatment.


RESULTS
Over a 32-month period, 79 ED records were identified for review. Patients' ages ranged from 15 to 21 years with a mean age of 19.4 (T0.2) years. Indications for droperidol included agitation, 68 (86%); nausea/vomiting, 7 (9%); headache, 2 (3%); and other pain, 2 (3%). Droperidol was the initial therapy in 63 patients (80%) and the rescue medication in 16 (20%). In nonagitated patients, droperidol was 100% effective in controlling patient's symptoms, whereas in agitated patients, droperidol alone was 86.6% effective as a single agent. Within the agitated patients, 35 (51.5%) were positive for drugs, 15 (22.1%) were positive for drugs and alcohol, and 12 (17.6%) were positive for alcohol alone. All patients were placed on continuous cardiac monitoring immediately after administration of the drug and for the duration of their active ED visit. No cardiac arrhythmias were noted. Thirty-eight patients (48%) were discharged from the ED, 35 (44%) were transferred to the psychiatric crisis unit for evaluation, 5 (6%) were admitted, and in 1 patient with biliary colic, the disposition was not recorded. No admissions were for droperidol-associated complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Droperidol is a safe and effective medication in the adolescent and young adult population.
Szwak
Kenneth
K
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden, NJ, USA.
Sacchetti
Alfred
A
D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood; D004329:Droperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009325:Nausea / Q000188:drug therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D014839:Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult
D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000932:Antiemetics; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D008140:Lorazepam; D004329:Droperidol