Droperidol decreases the incidence and the severity of vomiting after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children

Summary We assessed the effect of intravenous droperidol on the incidence and the severity of postoperative vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Seventy‐nine ASA physical status I or II children aged 1.5 to 18 years (mean 6.1 years) were randomized into two groups. Group I received droperidol 50 μg·kg −1 i.v. (maximum 1.25 mg), while group II received saline placebo immediately following the induction of general anaesthesia. All episodes of vomiting were recorded from the time of extubation until discharge the next morning. Of the 35 assigned to group I only 16 (46%) had one or more episodes of emesis compared to 31 of 44 (71%) in group II ( P < 0.05). Patients in group I who vomited, did so only 1.9 ± 1.2 times compared to 4.6 ± 3.8 times for the control patients ( P < 0.01). The authors conclude that droperidol at a dose of 50 μg·kg −1 given at the time of induction of anaesthesia to healthy children decreases the incidence and the severity of vomiting during the first postoperative day following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.;