The effects of prophylactic dixyrazine on postoperative vomiting after two different anaesthetic methods for squint surgery in children

The incidence of postoperative vomiting after squint surgery was studied for two anaesthetic techniques with and without prophylactic dixyrazine. After induction, anaesthesia was maintained with either fentanyl/pancuronium/nitrous oxide or halothane/nitrous oxide in two randomly selected groups of 58 children each. Half of the children in each group were randomly allocated to receive dixyrazine 0.25 mg kg-1 i.v. after surgery had been completed but before reversal of muscle relaxants or termination of anaesthesia. With prophylactic dixyrazine the incidence of postoperative vomiting was significantly reduced from 69% (20/29) to 21% (6/29) in the fentanyl group and from 45% (13/29) to 10% (3/29) in the halothane group. Without prophylactic dixyrazine, 20 of 29 children in the fentanyl group vomited compared to 13 of 29 in the halothane group (n.s.). Thus, prophylactic dixyrazine reduced the incidence of vomiting in children given either opioid or halothane anaesthesia for squint surgery. In comparable groups avoidance of opioid anaesthetic technique and use of prophylactic dixyrazine resulted in a greatly reduced incidence of vomiting.