Small-dose droperidol effectively reduces nausea in a general surgical adult patient population

In this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we (1) determine d whether 0.625 mg of IV droperidol given 30 min before emergence from gene ral anesthesia reduces the incidence of immediate and delayed postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in a general surgical adult patient population, and (2) compared the efficacy of droperidol, ondansetron, and promethazine for the rescue treatment of PONV. One hundred fifty adult patients receivi ng general anesthesia for >2 h received either droperidol (0.625 mg IV) or a placebo before emergence. Patients requiring treatment for PONV in the po stanesthesia care unit were randomized to receive either droperidol (0.625 mg IV), ondansetron (4 mg IV), or promethazine (12.5 mg IV). Droperidol eff ectively prevented PONV (6.8% in droperidol-treated patients versus 40.8% i n placebo-treated patients, P < 0.001). Droperidol, ondansetron, and promet hazine were equally effective in treating established PONV, without signifi cant differences in side effects or time to postanesthesia care unit discha rge.