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PubMed1998

Therapeutic suggestions given during neurolept-anaesthesia decrease post-operative nausea and vomiting.

A double-blind randomized study was performed in 100 patients undergoing thyroidectomy to evaluate the effect of positive therapeutic suggestions made during neurolept-anaesthesia. The classic droperidol-fentanyl-N2O technique was used as these drugs preserve the neurophysiological functions required to process the information in the therapeutic suggestions given during general anaesthesia. Patients in the suggestion group heard positive non-affirmative suggestions during the whole operation. An autoreverse tape player was used. The control group listened to an empty tape. Both groups were comparable with respect to demographic variables, anaesthetic technique, drug dosage, duration of anaesthesia and surgery. Patients in the suggestion group suffered significantly less from post-operative nausea or vomiting (suggestion: 47.2% vs. control: 85.7%) and required less anti-emetic treatment (suggestion: 30.6% vs. control: 68.6%). We conclude that therapeutic suggestions heard during neurolept-anaesthesia are processed and decrease post-operative nausea and vomiting in patients after thyroidectomy.

Anesthesia, General↗

PubMed1996

[Transdermal scopolamine for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. No clinically relevant result in spite of reduced postoperative vomiting in general surgical and gynecologic patients].

UNLABELLED: In a prospective double-blind trial, transdermal scopolamine (TS) was compared to placebo (P) in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) within a 48-h interval. After stratification for gender and surgical procedure, patients were randomly chosen to receive either TS or placebo. METHODS: Of 304 surgical and gynaecological patients included in this study, the data of 263 patients were evaluated (48 thyroidectomies, 15 open, and 36 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, 41 open, and 36 laparoscopic hernia repairs, 37 hysterectomies, and 50 gynaecological laparoscopies). The two groups were comparable with regard to biometrical data and duration of anaesthesia and surgery. Although anaesthesia was not standardized, there was no difference in anaesthesia techniques, drug dosage or perioperative management. Patients were evaluated once preoperatively and 2, 6, 10, 24, and 48 h postoperatively using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) for "nausea", "pain", "dry mouth", "sedation", and "blurred vision". Episodes of vomiting or retching and the need for additional antimetics (0.03 mg.kg-1 metoclopramide i.v., followed by 1 mg.kg-1 dimenhydrinat i.v., if necessary) were recorded. RESULTS: TS significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative vomiting within the first 48 h postoperatively [TS: 47 patients (36.2%) with 125 cumulative episodes vs P: 70 patients (52.6%) with 209 cumulative episodes]. Analysing the five observation intervals seperately, this difference could only be demonstrated 0-2 h and 6-10 h postoperatively. In patients suffering from emetic sequelae, TS did not reduce the frequency of vomiting significantly (mean frequency: TS: 2.7 vs P: 3.0). TS also had no significant effect on the requirement of additional antiemetics [TS:. 81 times in 46 (35.7%) patients vs P: 116 times in 58 (44.3%) patients]. Nausea as rated by the VAS was not significantly different between the two groups at any time during the postoperative observation. No relevant side-effects occurred, although there was a trend toward higher ratings of "dry mouth" in the TS group, reaching statistical significance 10 h after operation. CONCLUSION: The routine administration of TS for gynaecological and surgical patients cannot be recommended because of the lack of effect on postoperative nausea and only marginal benefit concerning postoperative vomiting.

Administration, Cutaneous↗