Abstract | OBJECTIVES: The authors' objectives were: 1) to determine the incidence of motion sickness during ambulance transport on a mountainous route in healthy volunteers, and 2) to determine if droperidol alleviated the signs and symptoms of motion sickness in those volunteers who developed it. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were healthy volunteers over age 18 and not currently taking an antiemetic. Participants were transported in the back of an ambulance over a mountainous road. Those who developed motion sickness rated their nausea on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) and were randomized to receive placebo (saline) or 2.5 mg droperidol intravenously. Symptoms were recorded on a VAS every 5 minutes until the end of the transport. Incidence of motion sickness was calculated as a percentage with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Pretreatment characteristics were compared with chi-square tests, and mean VAS scores were compared using t-tests. RESULTS: Thirty-seven subjects completed the study. Sixteen (43%, 95% CI=27%-59%) developed motion sickness. Fifteen were randomized and completed data collection. Eight received droperidol (mean baseline VAS, 45) and seven received placebo (mean baseline VAS, 40). Droperidol trended toward a greater mean reduction of nausea than placebo at 5 minutes (20 versus 4, p=0.077). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of motion sickness during ambulance transport in a mountainous setting is substantial. There was a strong trend toward a positive treatment effect with droperidol. Further prospective study in an actual patient setting is warranted.
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Authors | Lori Weichenthal, Tricia Soliz |
Journal | Prehospital emergency care
(Prehosp Emerg Care)
2003 Oct-Dec
Vol. 7
Issue 4
Pg. 474-6
ISSN: 1090-3127 [Print] England |
PMID | 14582102
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adult
- Ambulances
- Confidence Intervals
- Double-Blind Method
- Droperidol
(administration & dosage)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Incidence
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Motion Sickness
(classification, drug therapy, epidemiology, etiology)
- Probability
- Prospective Studies
- Reference Values
- Risk Assessment
- Severity of Illness Index
- Treatment Outcome
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