A single dose of droperidol resulted in QTc prolongation in 52% of patients compared to 79% of patients receiving haloperidol, showing no statistically significant difference between the groups.
Cohort (n=44)
No
Does a single dose of droperidol compared to haloperidol affect the incidence of QTc prolongation in adult inpatients?
There was no significant difference in the incidence of QTc prolongation following a single dose of droperidol compared to haloperidol, though both frequently caused prolongation.
Absolute Event Rate: 52% vs 79%
p-value: p=0.113
Purpose: Droperidol and haloperidol are nonselective dopamine receptor blockers with clinical indications including postoperative nausea and vomiting and agitation. One signature side effect of both medications includes electrocardiogram (EKG) changes, such as QT prolongation. This may lead to torsades de pointes (TdP), a life-threatening arrhythmia. Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the change in the QTc interval following a single dose of droperidol or haloperidol. Methods: This study entailed a retrospective chart review of inpatient medical records of adult patients who received a single dose of either droperidol or haloperidol. The primary outcome measure is the presence of QT prolongation following the administration of a single dose of droperidol or haloperidol. Results: A total of 44 patients were included in the study. Patients were included in the study irrespective of their baseline QTc interval. QTc prolongation from baseline occurred in 52% of patients who received droperidol (13/25) and 79% of patients in the haloperidol group (15/19; p=0.113). As for patients who did not have prolonged QTc intervals at baseline, 9/15 patients (60%) in the droperidol group and 5/9 (56%) of patients in the haloperidol group experienced QTc after the study medication was administered (p=1). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the incidence of QTc prolongation following single doses of either droperidol or haloperidol. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to assess the effect of droperidol and haloperidol on QTc prolongation.
Stephens et al. (Tue,) conducted a cohort in Patients requiring droperidol or haloperidol (e.g., postoperative nausea and vomiting, acute agitation) (n=44). Droperidol vs. Haloperidol (single dose, median 5 mg) was evaluated on Presence of any QTc prolongation following the administration of a single dose (p=0.113). A single dose of droperidol resulted in QTc prolongation in 52% of patients compared to 79% of patients receiving haloperidol, showing no statistically significant difference between the groups.