Anaesthesiol Reanim. 1996 ; 21(6): 153-8.

[Clinical use of antiemetic drugs for prevention and therapy of postoperative nausea and vomiting]

Saur P, Kazmaier S, Buhre W, Neumann P.

Zentrum f�r Anaesthesiologie, Rettungs- und Intensivmedizin, Georg-August-Universit�t GÃ¶ttingen.

The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has not decreased significantly for decades. This study was done to evaluate whether there is a standard method or a preferred substance in German hospitals in the prophylaxis and treatment of PONV. Twenty-one randomly selected hospitals were asked to give details about substances, doses and application times and forms in PONV prophylaxis and treatment. Most of the patients with a high risk of emesis were treated prophylactically with droperidol. Dosage and time of application were different in each hospital. Metoclopramide was the second most frequently used substance for both prophylaxis and treatment. Dimenhydrinate, triflupromaxzine, promethazine and acupuncture were used less commonly in prophylaxis. Alizapride and ondansetron were used to treat PONV in only two hospitals. Summarising, this study found no routine standard in the prophylaxis and therapy of PONV. Droperidol and metoclopramide were the most frequently used antiemetics. An overview of the antiemetics involved is given.