Prophylactic antiemetic therapy with granisetron-droperidol combination in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PURPOSE: A relatively high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) occurs in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of granisetron-droperidol combination with each drug alone for the prevention of PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODS

In a randomized, double-blind manner, 150 female inpatients received 3 mg granisetron (Group G), 1.25 mg droperidol (Group D) or 3 mg granisetron plus 1.25 mg droperidol (Group GD)(n = 50 for each) i.v. immediately before the induction of anaesthesia. The same standard general anaesthetic technique, which consisted of isoflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen, was used. Nausea, vomiting and safety assessments were performed continuously during the first 24 hr after anaesthesia.

RESULTS

Complete response, defined as no PONV and no administration of rescue antiemetic medication, was 86% in Group G, 64% in Group D and 98% in Group GD (P = 0.03 vs Group G, P = 0.001 vs Group D). No clinically adverse events were observed in any group.

CONCLUSION

Granisetron-droperidol combination is more effective than each antiemetic alone in the prevention of PONV after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.