[Prophylaxis of intraoperative nausea and vomiting with sub-hypnotic dose of propofol during intradural anesthesia in cesarean section].

OBJECTIVES

To determine the preventive and therapeutic effect of 10 mg of propofol administered after delivery on the incidence of intraoperative nausea and vomiting (IONV) during intradural anesthesia for cesarean delivery.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Controlled, randomized double blind study of 60 women (ASA I-II) receiving intradural anesthesia for elective or deferred emergency cesarean delivery. The propofol group received 10 mg i.v. immediately after fetal extraction. The control group received an equal volume of Intralipid. The presence of IONV after administration of the prophylactic bolus was treated with a second bolus, and if nausea had not subsided completely after two minutes, treatment was topped up with dehydro-benzoperidol.

RESULTS

The control group included 31 women and the propofol group 29, of whom 3 were excluded. Control variables were similar in the two groups. There were no significant differences in the incidence and severity of IONV between the two groups (22.5 versus 23%). The top-up antiemetic drug was used in the same number of patients in each group.

CONCLUSIONS

Although 10 mg propofol has been described as an effective direct antiemetic, episodes of IONV were neither prevented nor reversed by its use during intradural anesthesia for cesarean delivery.