PREVENTION OF POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING WITH TRANSDERMAL HYOSCINE IN CHILDREN USING PATIENT-CONTROLLED ANALGESIA

We have studied 40 children aged 6-14 yr undergoing abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia with extradural block; they were allocated r andomly to receive transdermal hyoscine (loading dose 140 mu g, follow ed by 5 mu g h(-1)) or placebo for the duration of postoperative analg esia with PCA morphine. There was a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in She incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the treated g roup compared with the placebo group during the first 48 h after opera tion. The treated group also had a significantly increased incidence o f sedation (P < 0.02) and dry mouth (P < 0.01).