Perphenazine decreases vomiting by children after tonsillectomy

Purpose

To test the hypothesis that perphenazine decreases the incidence of vomiting by children after tonsillectomy.

Methods

Healthy children (n = 260) aged 2–12 yr undergoing elective tonsillectomy on a day care surgical basis were studied in this randomised, stratified, blocked, double-blind investigation. General Anaesthesia was induced intravenously with propofol or by inhalation with halothane and N₂O. Perphenazine 70 μg·kg^?1 up to 5 mg or placebo iv was administered before surgery. Management of perioperative fluids, emesis and pain were all standardised.

Results

The groups were similar with respect to demographic data. There was less vomiting after perphenazine during the first 24 hr after surgery 42% (95% CI = 34%–50%) vs 57% (95% CI = 48%–66%, placebo), P < 0.01. On the day of surgery, both in and out-of hospital emesis were decreased by perphenazine. The perphenazine treated patients required fewer rescue antiemetics than the control group, P < 0.05. Each episode of in-hospital vomiting delayed discharge by 20 ± 7 min (mean ± SD). P = 0.007.

Conclusion

The prophylactic administration of perphenazine decreases vomiting by children after tonsillectomy.