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

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.