Perphenazine decreases vomiting by children after tonsillectomy.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To test the hypothesis that perphenazine decreases the incidence of vomiting by children after tonsillectomy.

METHODS:

Healthy children (n = 260) aged 2-12 yr undergoing elective tonsillectomy on a day care surgical basis were studied in this randomised. stratified, blocked, double-blind investigation. General Anaesthesia was induced intravenously with propofol or by inhalation with halothane and N2O. Perphenazine 70 micrograms.kg-1 up to 5 mg or placebo i.v. was administered before surgery. Management of perioperative fluids, emesis and pain were all standardised.

RESULTS:

The groups were similar with respect to demographic data. There was less vomiting after perphenazine during the first 24 hr after surgery 42% (95% CI = 34%-50%) vs 57% (95% CI = 48%-66%, placebo), P < 0.01. On the day of surgery, both in and out-of hospital emesis were decreased by perphenazine. The perphenazine treated patients required fewer rescue antiemetics than the control group, P < 0.05. Each episode of in-hospital vomiting delayed discharge by 20 +/- 7 min (mean +/- SD), P = 0.007.

CONCLUSION:

The prophylactic administration of perphenazine decreases vomiting by children after tonsillectomy.

• Authors: W M Splinter, D J Roberts
• Journal: Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie (Can J Anaesth) Vol. 44 Issue 12 Pg. 1308-10 (Dec 1997) ISSN: 0832-610X [Print] United States
• PMID: 9429051 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antiemetics
• Perphenazine

Topics

• Antiemetics (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Double-Blind Method
• Humans
• Perphenazine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Postoperative Complications (prevention & control)
• Tonsillectomy
• Vomiting (prevention & control)