EFFECT OF NABILONE ON NAUSEA AND VOMITING AFTER TOTAL ABDOMINAL HYSTERECTOMY

In a prospective, double-blind study, we have examined the effect of p reoperative nabilone on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Sixt y women, less than 70 yr old, undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy, were allocated randomly to receive either nabilone 2 mg or metoclopra mide 10 mg orally 90 min before induction of anaesthesia. The study wa s designed to defect a 50% difference in the incidence of postoperativ e vomiting between the two groups, with an 80% power of achieving a st atistically significant result at the 5% level. Data from 53 patients were analysed: the incidences of nausea and vomiting for the metoclopr amide group were 70% and 67%, respectively; the corresponding values f or the nabilone group were 73% and 54%. These differences were not sig nificant.