A comparative study on the prevention of postoperative nausea by droperidole and dimenhydrinate

Abstract

This study compared both the antiemetic and sedative postanesthetic effects of droperidole and dimenhydrinate. 40 ASA class 1 or 2 patients scheduled for cystoscopy were randomly assigned to either droperidole or dimenhydrinate group. Ten of these patients were included In both groups receiving either of the two drugs on two different occasions (n1= 25, n2=25).

For premedication, all patients received 0.01mg/kg atropine sulphate followed by either droperidole 1.25 mg or dlmenydrinate 20 mg. intravenously. The duration of anesthesia, surgery and recovery were recorded. There was a significantly lower incidence of nausea in the dimenhydrinate group (p<0.01). None of the patients in the groups required additional doses of antiemetics in the recovery room. The time of recovery of full alertness and discharge was found to be significantly longer in the droperidole group (p<0.01). It was found that, dimenhydrinate is significantly more effective than droperidole in reducing the incidence of nausea in outpatient anesthesia. In addition, dimenhydrinate does not delay either the time to recovery or the time to discharge and we believe its routine use in outpatient anesthesia should be considered.

Keywords

• Outpatient anesthesia. Postoperative complication: Nausea; Droperidole,Dimenhydrinate

References

1. Birdai AB, Meuleman Thatte, WP. Prevention ol postoperative nausea with dimenhydrinate (dramamine) and droperidole (inapsine). Anesth Anaig 1989; 68: 2S-S25.