PREVENTION OF EMESIS AFTER STRABISMUS REPAIR IN CHILDREN - A PROSPECTIVE, DOUBLE-BLINDED, RANDOMIZED COMPARISON OF DROPERIDOL VERSUS ONDANSETRON

Study Objective: To compare the effectiveness of ondansetron with drop eridol in preventing postoperative emesis in children after strabismus repair. Design: Randomized, double-blind study. Patients and Setting: 57 ASA physical status I and II children aged 3 to 14 years, undergoi ng outpatient strabismus repair in two separate study centers. Interve ntions: Patients were randomized to receive either 0.15 mg/kg intraven ous (IV) ondansetron or 0.075 mg/kg IV droperidol shortly after induct ion of anesthesia. Measurements and Main Results: Number of episodes o f emesis and times to discharge from the recovery room and ambulatory center were assessed. Twenty-nine (94%) of 31 children who received on dansetron and 21 (81%) of 26 children who received droperidol were eme sis-free (p = NS). There were no significant differences in the number of episodes of emesis on the day after surgery or times to discharge. Conclusions: Ondansetron is at least as effective as droperidol in re ducing the frequency of emesis in children after strabismus repair, an d it did not shorten times to discharge home. The low number of patien ts in our study may have masked a difference in effect between the two groups. The clinician should decide whether the increased cost of ond ansetron justifies its use over other antiemetics.