PROPHYLAXIS FOR VOMITING BY CHILDREN AFTER TONSILLECTOMY - ONDANSETRON COMPARED WITH PERPHENAZINE

We have compared the effects of ondansetron and perphenazine on vomiti ng after tonsillectomy in 216 healthy children, aged 2-12 yr. The stud y was randomized, stratified, blocked and double blind. Anaesthesia wa s induced with propofol i.v. or by inhalation of halothane and nitrous oxide. Ondansetron 150 mu g kg(-1) or perphenazine 70 mu g kg(-1) was administered i.v. after induction of anaesthesia in a double-blind ma nner. Perioperative management of emesis, pain, fluids and patient dis charge were standardized. Ondansetron and perphenazine had similar eff ects on postoperative vomiting (44% vs 41%; ondansetron vs perphenazin e P = 0.77). By logistic regression analysis, the only significant pre dictor of postoperative vomiting was sex, that is males had a greater incidence of vomiting (49% vs 35%; P = 0.016). In-hospital vomiting wa s associated with a prolongation of stay in the day-care surgical unit of 7 min per episode of vomiting (P = 0.015). We conclude that ondans etron and perphenazine had similar effects on vomiting in children aft er tonsillectomy in a day-case setting.