The effect of oral clonidine premedication on nausea and vomiting after ear surgery.

Author(s): Taheri A, Javadimanesh MA, Ashraf H

Affiliation(s): Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Amir Alam Hospital, Tehran, Iran. taheria@sina.tums.ac.ir

Publication date & source: 2010-06, Middle East J Anesthesiol., 20(5):691-4.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a most distressing adverse event for surgical patients with a considerable economic impact .The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of clonidine given orally for PONV in patients undergoing anesthesia for outpatient ear surgery. METHODS: Sixty patients 30.2 +/- 9.9 years, scheduled for ear surgery, were randomly assigned to one of two groups (clonidine or placebo) in a double-blinded manner. Anesthesia was standardized laryngeal mask airway, fentanyl, propofol, halothane, nitrous oxide. RESULTS: A complete response, defined as no PONV and no need for rescue antiemetic medication, during the first 24 h after anesthesia was 33% with placebo and 67% with clonidine, respectively (P. 0.01). No clinically adverse event was observed in any of the groups. CONCLUSION: Oral premedication with clonidine reduced the rate of PONV in patients undergoing outpatient ear surgery.