The antiemetic effectiveness of droperidol during morphine patient-controlled analgesia

This prospective, double-blind study examined the antiemetic effectiveness of the addition of droperidol to a morphine solution for use in patient-controlled analgesia in a group of 50 patients undergoing elective lumbar laminectomy. The addition of 20 mg droperidol to 120 mg morphine in 60 ml saline given by a Baxter 'Infusor' patient-controlled analgesia device reduced the incidence of vomiting as compared to the addition of sodium chloride from 42.8% to 12.5% (p = 0.028) and of nausea from 71.4% to 29.2% (p = 0.005). The proportion of patients requiring rescue antiemetic therapy was reduced from 47.6% to 16.7% (p = 0.025) and the time interval to the first use of rescue antiemetic agent was significantly prolonged (p = 0.029). The use of droperidol was associated with an increased degree of sedation during the first 12 h after operation.