Faculty Collaboration Database

Continuous epidural, not intravenous, droperidol inhibits pruritus, nausea, and vomiting during epidural morphine analgesia. J Clin Anesth 2002 Mar;14(2):121-5

Date

04/12/2002

Pubmed ID

11943525

DOI

10.1016/s0952-8180(01)00366-x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0036203793 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   30 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate whether continuous epidural droperidol and intravenous (IV) intraoperative droperidol inhibit pruritus and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) during epidural morphine analgesia.

DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded, controlled study.

SETTING: Metropolitan cancer center.

PATIENTS: 120 ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing thoracic or abdominal surgery with general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients received an intraoperative epidural injection of 2 mg morphine hydrochloride, followed postoperatively by a continuous epidural infusion of morphine hydrochloride 4 mg/day for 4 days. Patients were randomly allocated to four groups: Group A = control group, Group B = intraoperative single IV injection of droperidol (2.5 mg), Group C = postoperative continuous epidural droperidol infusion (2.5 mg/day), and Group D = intraoperative IV injection of droperidol (2.5 mg) and postoperative continuous epidural droperidol infusion (2.5 mg/day).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The frequency and severity of pruritus and PONV in each group were evaluated during the postoperative period. Continuous epidural infusion of droperidol significantly reduced the frequency and severity of pruritus and PONV induced by epidural morphine without causing significant side effects. Intraoperative single IV injection of droperidol was effective for PONV (p < 0.05) but not for pruritus.

CONCLUSION: Postoperative epidural droperidol infusion significantly decreased both the frequency and severity of pruritus and PONV during postoperative continuous epidural morphine analgesia. IV intraoperative droperidol significantly reduced the frequency and the severity of PONV but not pruritus.

Author List

Nakata K, Mammoto T, Kita T, Taniguchi H, Kanbara N, Akamatsu T, Sakai T, Kishi Y

Author

Tadanori Mammoto MD, PhD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Abdomen
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Analgesia, Epidural
Analgesics, Opioid
Antiemetics
Double-Blind Method
Droperidol
Female
Humans
Injections, Intravenous
Male
Middle Aged
Morphine
Pain, Postoperative
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Pruritus
Thoracic Surgical Procedures