Clinical evaluation of postoperative nausea and vomiting after cleft lip and/or palate surgery in pediatric patients. Part 2: evaluation of preventive administration of droperidol in combination with dexamethasone.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of preventive administration of the combination of droperidol and dexamethasone on lowering the risk for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after cleft-related surgery in pediatric patients.

METHODS

Preventive care consisted of a single dose of droperidol (0.025 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (0.06 mg/kg), which were administered at the end of surgery. The effect of preventive administration was evaluated in a sample group of 58 patients aged ≥3 years who underwent cleft-related surgery. Thirty patients received preventive administration (prevention group) and 28 patients did not (comparative group). The following outcome variables were evaluated between the groups: sex, age, body weight at the time of surgery, and duration of anesthesia. The presence or absence of PONV was the primary outcome and other variables were considered as explanatory variables.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of PONV was 20% (6/30) in the prevention group and 28.6% (8/28) in the comparative group, with no significant difference between the groups (p=0.45). In multiple logistic regression analysis, sex was the only explanatory factor of PONV, with a higher risk in girls than in boys (odds ratio, 6.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.65-27.63; p=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence rate of PONV is 20% with preventive care of droperidol and dexamethasone administration, but this rate is not different from that without this combination. Sex is a risk factor for PONV. Further studies are required to validate our results.