Comparison of droperidol, dexamethasone and saline in the prevention of
postoperative nausea and vomiting after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery
in outpatients
การป้องกันภาวะคลื่นไส้อาเจียนหลังตรวจ/ผ่าตัดเล็กทางนรีเวชโดยวิธีส่องกล้องในผู้ป่วยนอก
เปรียบเทียบระหว่าง Droperidol, Dexamethasone และ Saline
Surapong Vongvatcharanon, D. of Anesthesiology, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Thida Kittijirawong, D. of Anesthesiology, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Thavat Chanchayanon, Asst. Prof., D. of Anesthesiology, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Corresponding e-mail : uthida@yahoo.com
Grant : Faculty of Medicine, PSU.
Published : Thai J of Anesthesiology 2000, 26(4) : 211-219
Key words : Anesthesia - outpatient, gynecologic laparoscopy, Vomiting - postoperative
nausea and vomiting (PONV), Antiemetic - droperidol, dexamethasone
Introduction : Laparoscopy is a popular procedure in outpatient gynecology. The most com-mon complication associated with this procedure is postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)
which sometimes requires patient hospitalization. In this prospective randomised double blinded controlled study, we evaluated prophylactic efficacy in reducing PONV by using droperidol (0.02
mg/kg, IV) or dexamethasone (0.15 mg/kg, IV) compared with a placebo.
Objectives : To compare the effect of droperidol, dexamethasone and saline in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery in outpatients.
Methods : Eighty-four outpatients, age 15-45, ASA Class I-II were randomly allocated into three groups (28 patients/group). Five minutes after induction and intubation, we gave the studied
drug; droperidol, dexamethasone or saline in each groups and then maintained anesthesia under ba-lanced technique.
Results : The incidence of PONV in the droperidol group was less than the placebo group at
30 min. (P=0.033) and less than the dexamethasone group at 60 and 90 min. (P=0.035 and 0.048, respectively). The overall incidence of PONV in the droperidol group was less than the dexametha-
sone and placebo groups (32.1% compared with 46.4% and 53.5%, respectively). In patients with a history of PONV or motion sickness, the incidence of PONV in the droperidol group was also less
than the dexamethasone and placebo groups. The droperidol group had sedation scores higher than
the dexamethasone and placebo groups only at 60 min. (P=0.04 and P=0.032, respectively). There was no difference in the incidence of PONV at 120 and 180 min. in the postanesthetic care unit (PACU)
and 24 hr. at home between all three study groups. The number of patients who had to be admitted
due to severe nausea and vomiting were three in the placebo group and one patient in the dexametha-sone group.
Conclusion : Droperidol is more effective in prophylaxis of early PONV than dexamethasone or a placebo with sedation occurring only at 60 min. in gynecologic laparoscopic outpatients.
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