Vomiting after strabismus surgery in children: ondansetron vs propofol

To compare the antiemetic efficacy and costs associated with two anaesthetic regimens in children undergoing strabismus surgery. One regimen contained halothane, nitrous oxide and ondansetron, while the other contained propofol and nitrous oxide.

Three hundred children aged 2-14 yr undergoing strabismus surgery were enrolled into this single-blind, randomized, stratified, blocked study with a balanced design. Anaesthesia was induced by inhalation with halothane/N2O/O2 (Group O) or with 2.5-3.5 mg.kg-1 propofol + 0.5 mg.kg-1 lidocaine i.v. (Group P). Group O patients were administered 0.15 mg.kg-1 ondansetron (maximum dose 8 mg) i.v. and all patients received atropine 20 micrograms.kg-1 i.v. immediately after induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was maintained with N2O and halothane (Group O) or N2O and propofol (Group P). Patients were followed for 24 hr after their operation primarily to assess the incidence of postoperative vomiting. For each case, the costs of the anaesthetic drugs administered and their associated intravenous administration tubing were determined. Drug costs were those prevailing at the study site at the time of the investigation. Fixed costs, such as the cost of the anaesthetic equipment were not assessed.

Groups were similar with respect to demographic data. The incidence of vomiting in both groups was 11% while in-hospital and 23% after discharge. Each episode of in-hospital vomiting prolonged discharge by 17 +/- 4 min, P < 0.001. Mean cost per case for anaesthetic drugs was less in Group O, 18 +/- 8 vs 21 +/- 10, CDN$, mean +/- SD, P < 0.01.

The two methods of antiemetic prophylaxis were equally effective. Propofol-based anaesthesia was more expensive.