METOCLOPRAMIDE DECREASES EMESIS AFTER SPINAL-ANESTHESIA SUPPLEMENTED WITH SUBARACHNOID MORPHINE

Background and Objectives. The authors studied whether metoclopramide decreases the incidence of emesis after spinal anesthesia supplemented with subarachnoid morphine. Methods. Patients underwent total hip art hroplasty under spinal anesthesia using tetracaine with norepinephrine and morphine 0.2 mg. Forty-eight patients were included in the study conducted with a paired design, using sequential analysis. Patients we re allocated randomly and double-blinded to the treatment with metoclo pramide or to the control group. In one group, metoclopramide 20 mg in tramuscularly was given before and after surgery; patients in the cont rol group were given equal volumes of saline. The presence of emesis f or 5 hours postoperatively was recorded. Results. In the postoperative period, emesis was noted in 58% of control patients but in only 17% o f patients given metoclopramide (P < .05). Conclusions. The data sugge st that metoclopramide is effective against postoperative emesis after spinal anesthesia supplemented with subarachnoid morphine.