PERPHENAZINE DECREASES VOMITING BY CHILDREN AFTER TONSILLECTOMY

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that perphenazine decreases the incide nce of vomiting by children after tonsillectomy, Methods: Healthy chil dren (n = 260) aged 2-12 yr undergoing elective tonsillectomy on a day care surgical basis were studied in this randomised, stratified, bloc ked, double-blind investigation. General Anaesthesia was induced intra venously with propofol or by inhalation with halothane and N2O. Perphe nazine 70 mu g.kg(-1) up to 5 mg or place bo iv was administered befor e surgery, Management of perioperative fluids, emesis and pain were ai l Standardised, Results: The groups were similar with respect to demog raphic data. There was less vomiting after perphenazine during the fir st 24 hr after surgery 42% (95% CI = 34%-50%) vs 57% (95% Cl = 48%-66% , placebo), P < 0.01. On the day of surgery, both in and out-of hospit al emesis were decreased by perphenazine, The perphenazine treated pat ients required fewer rescue antiemetics than the control group, P < 0. 05. Each episode of in-hospital vomiting delayed discharge by 20 +/- 7 min (mean +/- SD), P = 0.007. Conclusion: The prophylactic administra tion of perphenazine decreases vomiting by children after tonsillectom y.