Metoclopramide does not decrease the incidence of nausea and vomiting after alfentanil for outpatient anaesthesia

Abstract

Sixty patients were studied in a randomized, double-blind manner to determine whether metoclopramide added to droperidol decreased further the incidence of emetic symptoms (nausea, retching, vomiting) in outpatients receiving alfentanil anaesthesia for nasal surgery. Group 1 (n = 30) received metoclopramide 0.15 mg · kg- 1 and Group 2 (n = 30) received placebo. In addition, both groups received droperidol 0.02 mg · kg- 1 immediately before anaesthesia which was supplemented by alfentanil 20 μg · kg- 1 at induction followed by an infusion of 0.25-1 μg · kg- 1 · min- 1. Emetic symptoms were assessed 0-3 hr, 3-6 hr and 6-24 hr after surgery. Both groups received similar doses of alfentanil (mean ± SD; Group 1 4641 ± 1894 μg, Group 2 4714 ± 1640 μg). The percentage of patients who had eigher nausea or vomiting at 0-3, 3-6 or 6-24 hr was23%, 14% and 13% in Group 1; and 20%, 17% and 10% in Group 2. The overall incidence for each group was 8/30 (27%). There was no difference in the incidence of emetic symptoms between the groups at any time interval or throughout the study. Metoclopramide did not improve upon the antiemesis of droperidol during alfentanil anaesthesia for outpatient nasal surgery. © 1991 Canadian Anesthesiologists.