Reduction of postoperative vomiting in high-risk patients.

Twenty-eight patients who had a history of severe postoperative vomiting were divided into two groups. The first group received various anaesthetic drugs and the second group received a pethidine promethazine premedication and thiopentone, alcuronium, fentanyl and droperidol. There was a significant reduction in postoperative vomiting as assessed by vomiting score in both groups of patients, with the second group having a greater reduction in vomiting score than the control group. Nine of the patients in the second group have received the same anaesthetic uneventfully on a subsequent occasion. We propose that reassurance and the anaesthetic technique described can significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative vomiting in a high risk group.