The combination of haloperidol, dexamethasone, and ondansetron for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a randomized double-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: Many patients may experience postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). We evaluated the efficacy of the combination of haloperidol, dexamethasone, and ondansetron for prevention of PONV after LSG.

METHODS: Ninety patients were included in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, three-arm study (group O: ondansetron 8 mg; group DO: dexamethasone 8 mg and ondansetron 8 mg; group HDO: haloperidol 2 mg, dexamethasone 8 mg, and ondansetron). Nausea, vomiting, rescue antiemetic use, morphine consumption, adverse events, and volume of intravenous fluids infused were recorded at regular intervals for 36 h postoperatively.

RESULTS: The incidence of nausea was lower 0-2 h postoperatively in group HDO compared to group O (23.7 versus 56.7 %, p = 0.016) and at 12-24 h postoperatively was lower in group HDO (23.3 %) and group DO (26.7 %) compared to group O (60 %) (p = 0.008 and p = 0.009, respectively). At 0-36 h postoperatively, nausea was lower in group HDO compared to group O (53.3 versus 86.7 %, p = 0.013). Vomiting at 0-36 h postoperatively was lower in group HDO compared to group O (20 versus 53.3 %, p = 0.015). Rescue antiemetic drug and morphine consumption were less used in group HDO compared to group O (p <0.01). The volume of fluids infused in group O was approximately 1 l greater than in group HDO (p = 0.026).

CONCLUSION: The combination of haloperidol, dexamethasone, and ondansetron reduced PONV and the necessity of rescue antiemetics and also reduced morphine consumption and the volume of fluids infused postoperatively.