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 24h after anesthesia was 33% with placebo and 67% with lonidine, 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.