A comparison of continuous intravenous infusion versus continuous epidural infusion of droperidol for the prevension of post operative nausea and vomiting
Background : The continuous epidural injection (CEPI) of droperidol has been used in Japan for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). To evaluate the CEPI of droperidol, we compared the efficacy of droperidol given by the CEPI with given by the continuous intravenous injection (CIVI).Methods : The patients scheduled for gynecological surgery accompanied by epidural analgesia were randomly allocated to an CEPI or CIVI group. In the CEPI group, droperidol (1.25 mg) was injected epidurally at the time of suturing followed a CEPI of droperidol (5 mg in 48ml) at 1 ml/h. In the CIVI group, droperidol (1.25 mg) was injected intravenously at the time of suturing followed a CIVI of droperidol (5 mg in 48ml) at 1 ml/h. The incidence and severity of PONV were evaluated in both groups.Results : 103 patients in the CEPI group and 102 patients in the CIVI group were included. The incidence of PONV in the first 24 hours (37.9% in the CEPI group and 32.4% in the CIVI group) and the severity of nausea during the first 72 hours were not different significantly between the two groups.Conclusion : The efficacy of droperidol was not different comparing CEPI with CIVI
