Prophylactic antiemetic therapy with droperidol in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is relatively high when no prophylactic antiemetic is given. We have studied the efficacy of a commonly used and well-established antiemetic, droperidol, for the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing LC.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 60 patients received placebo (saline) or droperidol 50 microg.kg(-1) (maximum dose, 2.5 mg) intravenously immediately before the induction of anesthesia (n = 30 of each). A standard general anesthetic technique was employed throughout.

A complete response, defined as no PONV and no need for another rescue antiemetic medication during the first 24 h after anesthesia, was 57% and 83% in patients who had received placebo and droperidol 50 microg.kg(-1), respectively ( P < 0.05). No clinically serious adverse events were observed in any of the groups.

Prophylactic antiemetic therapy with droperidol 50 microg.kg(-1) (maximum dose, 2.5 mg) is highly effective for preventing PONV after LC.