COMBINING PROPOFOL WITH MORPHINE IN PATIENT-CONTROLLED ANALGESIA TO PREVENT POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA AND VOMITING

We have studied the antiemetic effects of propofol when mixed with mor phine in a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump after major gynaeco logical surgery. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled study, 50 w omen, ASA I or II, received a standardized anaesthetic comprising thio pental, morphine, atracurium, nitrous oxide and oxygen with enflurane, and received postoperative PCA with morphine mixed with either 1% pro pofol or Ivelip. The PCA bolus was morphine 1 mg with propofol 5 mg or Ivelip 0.5 mi, with a lockout time of 5 min. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were assessed by the nursing staff using a four-point ordinal scale and by the patient using a visual analogue scale for 48 h after surgery. The two groups were similar in the potential factors influencing the incidence of PONV. There were no significant differen ces between the two groups in any of the study measurements of PONV. T here were no side effects after propofol. Propofol, when mixed with mo rphine in this dose combination for PCA, did not decrease the incidenc e of nausea and vomiting in women undergoing major gynaecological surg ery.