A comparison of the effects of droperidol and the combination of droperidol and ondansetron on postoperative nausea and vomiting for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

• Published in: Journal of clinical anesthesia 2002-11, Vol.14 (7), p.481-485
• Main Authors: Awad, Imad T, Murphy, Deirde, Stack, Damian, Swanton, Brian J, Meeke, Rodney I, Shorten, George D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anesthesia, General; Antiemetics - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cholecystectomy; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic - adverse effects; Digestive system; Double-Blind Method; droperidol; Droperidol - therapeutic use; Drug Therapy, Combination; Elective Surgical Procedures; Female; Humans; laparoscopic; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; nausea and vomiting; ondansetron; Ondansetron - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; postoperative; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0952-8180; 1873-4529
• DOI: 10.1016/S0952-8180(02)00394-X

To compare the prophylactic antiemetic efficacy of the combination of ondansetron and droperidol with that of droperidol alone in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Randomized, double-blind controlled trial. University affiliated teaching hospital after induction of standardized general anesthesia. 64 ASA physical status I or II patients aged 18 to 80 years, undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Following induction of general anesthesia, patients received either droperidol 1.25 mg intravenously (IV; n = 30; Group D) or the combination of droperidol 1.25 mg IV and ondansetron 4 mg IV (n = 34; Group D+O). Number and severity of nausea episodes, number of emetic episodes, total analgesic consumption, and rescue antiemetic administration were assessed at 1, 3, and 24 hours after admission to the recovery room. Data were analyzed using Fisher’s Exact test and unpaired Student’s t-test; a p-value