The Antiemetic Effect of Lorazepam after Outpatient Strabismus Surgery in Children

Abstract

The high incidence of postoperative emesis after strabismus surgery in pediatric outpatients can be reduced by the prophylactic administration of droperidol 75 µg/kg intravenously. However, this may be associated with profound sedation, delayed discharge, dysphoria, agitation, and extrapyramidal symptoms in this population. Because lorazepam used as an antiemetic in children during chemotherapy decreased the incidence of nausea and vomiting, we compared the antiemetic effects of lorazepam and droperidol in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 129 healthy children undergoing surgical correction of strabismus. The children, aged 1–13 yr, were randomly allocated into three groups. The children in group 1 received droperidol 75 µg/kg intravenously; those in group 2 received lorazepam 10 µg/kg intravenously; and those in group 3 received placebo. Anesthesia consisted of halothane, nitrous oxide in oxygen, and atracurium. Study drugs were administered intravenously after induction of anesthesia but before surgery. In children 3–13 yr old, administration of either lorazepam or droperidol was associated with a lower (P