Comparison of granisetron with granisetron plus droperidol combination prophylaxis in post-operative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of granisetron and granisetron plus droperidol combination therapy on post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in 60 patients who had undergone elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Induction of anaesthesia was achieved using 5 mg/kg thiopentone, 2 micrograms/kg fentanyl and 0.5 mg/kg atracurium, and anaesthesia was maintained with 2-2.5% sevoflurane. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups: group G (granisetron) (n = 30) patients received 3 mg granisetron and group GD (granisetron plus droperidol) (n = 30) patients received 3 mg granisetron and 1.25 mg droperidol shortly before the induction of anaesthesia. PONV incidence was recorded post-operatively at 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, 2 h, 4 h, 12 h and 24 h. While PONV prophylaxis provided almost complete emetic control in patients who received the granisetron plus droperidol combination, patients who received granisetron prophylaxis alone experienced PONV more frequently at 30 min and 60 min post-operatively. We conclude that addition of a low dose of droperidol to granisetron prophylaxis is more effective than granisetron prophylaxis alone for successful control of PONV.