Prophylaxis for vomiting by children after tonsillectomy: dexamethasone versus perphenazine

Abstract

The effects of dexamethasone and perphenazine on vomiting after tonsillectomy in children were compared in 226 healthy children aged 2-12 yr. The study was randomized, stratified, blocked, and double-blind. Anesthesia was induced intravenously (I.V.) with propofol or by inhalation with halothane and N2O. Dexamethasone 150 microg/kg or perphenazine 70 microg/kg was administered I.V. after the induction of anesthesia in a double-blind fashion. Perioperative management of emesis, pain, fluids, and patient discharge was all standardized. The groups had similar demographic characteristics. Perphenazine significantly reduced the incidence of in-hospital vomiting compared with dexamethasone (13% vs 36%, P < 0.001). The incidence of out-of-hospital vomiting was almost identical. Overall, the incidence was significantly different for perphenazine vs dexamethasone (33% vs 46%, P = 0.04) using logistic regression analysis. Of note, sex and induction technique were significant predictors of postoperative vomiting (P < 0.05) using logistic regression analysis, with male patients and those patients undergoing I.V. induction vomiting less. In conclusion, perphenazine more effectively decreases vomiting by children after tonsillectomy in an ambulatory hospital setting compared with dexamethasone.

Implications: Postoperative vomiting can have many debilitating effects, and children undergoing tonsillectomy are at particular risk. We compared the effects of dexamethasone and perphenazine on vomiting after tonsillectomy in 266 children. We found perphenazine more effective than dexamethasone before discharge from hospital but that the two drugs have similar effects after discharge.