Treatment of vomiting after paediatric strabismus surgery with granisetron, droperidol, and metoclopramide.

We have compared the efficacy and safety of granisetron, droperidol, and metoclopramide in the treatment of postoperative vomiting (POV) in children scheduled for strabismus surgery. After experiencing POV during the first 3 h after recovery from anaesthesia, 120 patients received intravenously, in a randomized, double-blind manner, granisetron 40 microg/kg, droperidol 50 microg/kg, or metoclopramide 0.25 mg/kg (n = 40 in each group). The patients were then observed for 24 h after administering the study drugs. Emesis-free episodes were more often observed in patients who had received granisetron (88%) than in those who had received droperidol (63%) or metoclopramide (58%; p < 0.05). No clinically serious adverse events were observed in any group. In conclusion, granisetron is more effective than droperidol or metoclopramide in the treatment of POV after paediatric strabismus surgery.