A double-blinded comparison of metoclopramide and droperidol for prevention of emesis following strabismus surgery. Metoclopramide reduces the incidence of vomiting following strabismus surgery in children. [Effects of ondansetron and metoclopramide on postoperative nausea and vomiting after epidural anesthesia in children]. Oral ondansetron, tropisetron or metoclopramide to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting: a comparison in high-risk patients undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery. Metoclopramide decreases emesis but increases sedation in tramadol patient-controlled analgesia. Premedication with cimetidine and metoclopramide. Effect on the risk factors of acid aspiration. Dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide alone or in combination for prophylaxis of PONV. Efficacy of metoclopramide as an adjunct to duodenal placement of small-bore feeding tubes: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Comparison of ondansetron and metoclopramide for the prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting after major gynaecological surgery.
Vomiting in the postoperative period is common in children after strabismus surgery. One hundred ten pediatric patients, ages 8 months to 14 yr, admitted for outpatient strabismus surgery were enrolled in a randomized, double-blinded study to compare droperidol and metoclopramide to placebo for the prevention of postoperative emesis. Each child was prospectively assigned at random to one of four treatment groups: metoclopramide 0.15 mg/kg, metoclopramide 0.25 mg/kg, droperidol 0.075 mg/kg, or saline control. Drugs were administered intravenously immediately after induction of inhalation anesthesia. No neuromuscular blocking agents were used. Tracheal extubation was performed while patients were still deeply anesthetized. Acetaminophen and meperidine were given in standard doses for postoperative pain to all children. The incidence of vomiting was less in both the droperidol (33%) and metoclopramide 0.25 mg/kg (29%) groups when compared to controls (88%) (P less than 0.01). Patients receiving metoclopramide 0.15 mg/kg had a 68% incidence of vomiting (P not significant). The mean frequency of emesis was reduced in all treatment groups compared with control (P less than 0.05). Patients receiving droperidol and metoclopramide 0.25 mg/kg also had decreased postoperative stays (metoclopramide 201 min; droperidol 213 min) versus control (258 min, P less than 0.05). No child exhibited extrapyramidal symptoms, excessive drowsiness, or agitation. We conclude that metoclopramide in a dose of 0.25 mg/kg, administered prior to the start of surgery, is at least as effective as droperidol in preventing postoperative emesis and can reduce the time to patient discharge compared to control. This randomized, double-blind study evaluated the efficacy of metoclopramide administered at the completion of surgery as an antiemetic agent in pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory strabismus surgery; 126 unpremedicated ASA Physical Status 1 and 2 children ranging in age from 2 to 18 yr served as subjects. All received general anesthesia with halothane, N2O, and O2; tracheal intubation was facilitated with intravenous (iv) atracurium 0.5 mg/kg. Intravenous atropine 0.02 mg/kg and lactated Ringer's solution with 5% dextrose equivalent to 4 h of maintenance fluids were administered during surgery. Neither opioids nor droperidol were given intraoperatively. At the completion of surgery, residual muscle paralysis was reversed with atropine 0.02 mg/kg (maximum dose 1.0 mg) and neostigmine 0.07 mg/kg (maximum dose 5.0 mg), and the stomach was decompressed prior to tracheal extubation. After the patient had been transferred to the postanesthesia recovery room (PARR) either metoclopramide 0.15 mg/kg or normal saline was administered intravenously to the children over a 1-min period. A research associate monitored the children for the incidence of post-operative vomiting and the time required for each child to meet discharge criteria from Short Stay Recovery Unit (SSRU). If a child vomited more than three times in both the PARR and SSRU, the vomiting was construed to be severe and the patient was offered further antiemetic treatment with iv droperidol 70 micrograms/kg. The incidence of postoperative vomiting in the metoclopramide group was 37% versus 59% in the placebo group (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) We studied the preventive effect on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) of ondansetron, metoclopramide and placebo associated with epidural anaesthesia. Sixty children, ASA I or II, 4 to 12 yr old underwent surgery for inguinal hernia repair (n = 30) or orchidopexy (n = 30). Children were randomly assigned to a postinduction intravenous medication group, ondansetron (5 mg.m-2), metoclopramide (0,12 mg.kg-1) or a saline solution placebo. After a general anaesthesia was obtained with halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen delivered by mask, caudal or lumbar epidural anaesthesia was performed with plain mepivacaine. General performed with plain mepivacaine. General anaesthesia was interrupted and light narcosis maintained with diazepam during surgery. There were no significant differences in age and weight between the three groups. There were no adverse reactions to either ondansetron or metoclopramide. vomiting was not present in ondansetron group. The incidence of postoperative emesis in the metoclopramide group was 25%, whereas that of placebo group was 10%. The administration of ondansetron was associated with a lower (P = 0.017) incidence of postoperative vomiting if compared to the metoclopramide group. In conclusion ondansetron given preoperatively had proven to be an effective treatment for PONV after epidural block for lower abdominal surgery. Oral antiemetic prophylaxis may be a practical alternative to intravenous administration. Intravenous ondansetron and tropisetron prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) at least as efficiently as traditional antiemetics, droperidol and metoclopramide. We tested the hypothesis that the incidence of PONV after oral ondansetron or tropisetron prophylaxis is lower compared with metoclopramide among high-risk patients.
                In a prospective, double-blind study we studied 179 high-risk patients who received either ondansetron 16 mg, tropisetron 5 mg, or metoclopramide 10 mg orally 1 h before the operation. A standard general anesthetic technique and postoperative analgesia were used. The incidence of PONV and the need for rescue antiemetic medication was recorded for 24 h.
                In the postanesthesia care unit, the incidence of PONV was lower after premedication with tropisetron compared with ondansetron and metoclopramide (15%, 32% and 39%, respectively). The incidence of PONV during 0-24 h was the same in each group (68%, 58% and 75% in the ondansetron, tropisetron and metoclopramide group, respectively), but the incidence of vomiting was significantly lower after ondansetron (34%) and tropisetron (22%) prophylaxis compared with metoclopramide (53%). The need for additional antiemetics was significantly lower after tropisetron prophylaxis compared with metoclopramide. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher after tropisetron than after metoclopramide.
                In the initial period, the incidence of PONV was lower after premedication with oral tropisetron than after ondansetron or metoclopramide. Considering the entire 24-h postoperative period, the incidence of PONV was the same after all three premedications, but the incidence of vomiting was lower after oral ondansetron and tropisetron than after metoclopramide. To evaluate the clinical benefits and disadvantages of adding metoclopramide to tramadol for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).
                Forty adult patients, undergoing elective arthroplasties, were recruited into this prospective, randomized, double-blind study. During general anesthesia all patients received 2.5 mg x kg(-1) of tramadol as a loading dose at the beginning of wound closure. In the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) patients were randomly allocated to receive PCA containing either 20 mg tramadol + 1 mg metoclopramide per millilitre (n = 20, Group T+M) or tramadol 20 mg per millilitre (n = 20, Group T). The PCA setup was 1 mL/bolus with a lockout interval of five minutes. A blinded investigator assessed the vital signs, visual analogue scale, and severity of postoperative nausea and/or vomiting in the PACU. The PCA demand and delivery, overall satisfaction rate and adverse effects were recorded in the PACU and on postoperative days one and two.
                Nausea/vomiting scores were more severe (1.7 +/- 1.0 vs 0.2 +/- 0.5, 2.3 +/- 1.2 vs 0.6 +/- 0.6, 1.9 +/- 0.9 vs 0.2 +/- 0.5, at 12 hr, 18 hr, 24 hr, respectively, P < 0.05) and more frequent (7/20 vs 1/20, 5/20 vs 0/20 for nausea and vomiting respectively, P < 0.05) on postoperative day one in Group T compared to Group T+M. However, the incidence of sedation was higher in Group T+M (7/20 vs 1/20, P < 0.05).
                The incidence and severity of nausea/vomiting decreased if metoclopramide was added to tramadol for PCA. An increased incidence of sedation was noticed with this drug combination. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study was conducted in adult females to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination of cimetidine 300 mg orally and metoclopramide 10 or 20 mg intravenously in reducing pre-operative residual gastric volume and raising gastric pH. The effect of preoperative metoclopramide on postoperative nausea and vomiting was also investigated. Oral cimetidine was given approximately 2-2.5 hours before, and intravenous metoclopramide either 15 or 30 minutes prior to induction of anaesthesia. The study showed that placebo-treated patients undergoing outpatient operations have an increased risk of acid aspiration because of high residual gastric volume and low pH and increased risk of serious pulmonary injury should acid aspiration occur. Metoclopramide 10 or 20 mg intravenously prior to induction of anaesthesia was effective in reducing the residual gastric volume significantly, but not in raising pH. The combination of cimetidine and metoclopramide, as well as cimetidine alone, reduced the risk factors of acid aspiration by raising gastric pH and reducing residual volume. No anti-emetic effect of metoclopramide was observed. Higher doses of metoclopramide (20 mg) produced significant side effects (flushing, dizziness, extrapyramidal side effects), but were only marginally more effective than 10 mg doses in reducing residual gastric volume. Dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide are inexpensive antiemetic drugs. Metoclopramide, especially, has been studied extensively in the past, but there are no studies on the combination of both drugs for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).
                One hundred and sixty male inpatients undergoing endonasal surgery were randomized to receive one of four antiemetic regimens in a double-blind manner: placebo, 1 mg x kg(-1) dimenhydrinate, 0.3 mg x kg(-1) metoclopramide, or the combination of both drugs was administered after induction of anesthesia. Patients received a second dose of these drugs six hours after the first administration to mitigate their short half-life. Standardized general anesthesia included benzodiazepine premedication, propofol, desflurane in N2O/O2 vecuronium, and a continuous infusion of remifentanil. Postoperative analgesia and antiemetic rescue medication were standardized. Episodes of vomiting, retching, nausea, and the need for additional antiemetics were recorded for 24 hr. The incidences of PONV were analyzed with Fisher's Exact test and the severity of PONV (rated by a standardized scoring algorithm) with the Jonckheere-Terpestra-test.
                The incidence of patients free from PONV was 62.5% in the placebo-group and increased to 72.5% in the metoclopramide-group (P = 0.54), 75.0% in the dimenhydrinate-group (P = 0.34), and 85.0% in the combination- group (P = 0.025). In the latter group, the severity of PONV was reduced compared with placebo treatment (P = 0.017; Jonckheere-Terpestra-test).
                Dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide were ineffective in reducing the incidence and the severity of PONV. Their combination reduced the incidence of PONV compared with placebo. We examined whether metoclopramide would improve the success rate of transpyloric intubation of a weighted Corpak feeding tube when fluoroscopic guidance is not used. Seventy patients were randomized in a prospective, double-blind fashion to receive either placebo (n = 35) or metoclopramide, 10 mg (n = 35) parenterally, administered immediately after the feeding tube was inserted. Tube location was determined independently by two observers who examined radiographs obtained after barium was instilled via the tube. There was no significant increase in the success rate of duodenal intubation in the total group following metoclopramide, 60%, compared to placebo, 49%. However, analysis of subgroups among the placebo-treated patients revealed that diabetes mellitus, but not other medical conditions, decreased the success rate for duodenal intubation, 20 vs 60% (p less than 0.05). Among diabetic patients, metoclopramide resulted in a significant increase in duodenal placement compared to placebo (p less than 0.05). We conclude that parenteral metoclopramide significantly increases the frequency of transpyloric intubation with small feeding tubes without fluoroscopic guidance in diabetic patients but not in nondiabetic patients. The efficacy of ondansetron 4 mg was compared with metoclopramide 10 mg for the prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting in patients after major gynaecological abdominal surgery. Anaesthesia was standardized using thiopentone, atracurium and methadone for induction followed by isoflurane in nitrous oxide-oxygen mixture. Fifty patients were randomized in a double-blind fashion to either receive intravenous (i.v.) ondansetron 4 mg or metoclopramide 10 mg during closure of the pelvic peritoneum. The incidence and frequency of vomiting, and the incidence of severe nausea was recorded for 24 h after surgery. One patient was excluded because of respiratory depression. In the first 4 h after surgery, five patients (20%) in the ondansetron group (n = 25) and eight patients (33%) in the metoclopramide group (n = 24) vomited, whereas at 4-12 h, this increased to 11 patients (44%) and nine patients (37.5%) respectively. The incidence was 52 and 37.5% respectively in the subsequent 12-24 h. The highest incidence of nausea was in the first 4 h after surgery, being 56 and 37.5% in the ondansetron and the metoclopramide groups respectively. This decreased to less than 25% in both groups in the 12-24 h period. Ondansetron 4 mg and metoclopramide 10 mg had similar but short lasting efficacy for the prevention of vomiting in patients who received continued opioid analgesia after major gynaecological surgery.
Metoclopramide enhanced the migration of naso-enteral tubes, but the results did not reach conventional statistical significance. The reasons may include: small studies, underpowered, varying doses, etc. In clinical practice, clinicians should no longer use metoclopramide for this purpose. However, more randomised clinical trials should be performed with a significant sample size, administering metoclopramide or not. The use of metoclopramide may include adverse reactions, such as depression, high blood pressure, decrease of libido, headache, skin rash, fatigue, fever, hyperactivity, insomnia, nausea, sedation, drowsiness, agitation, extrapyramidal reactions (impaired speech or impaired swallowing, unsteady gait, inflexibility of upper and lower members, tremor).