Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 9, 51-60, Copyright © 1962 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Postoperative Vomiting: A Review and Present Status of Treatment

¹ Department of Anaesthesia, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario

A brief summary of the anatomy and physiology of the vomiting centre is presented along with a review of the incidence and factors related to postoperative vomiting. The roles of scopolamine, antihistamines, and many of the phenothiazine derivatives now in popular use as presented by several investigators are reviewed. It appears that as the potency and efficacy of a particular postoperative anti-emetic increases, the toxicity and unwanted side effects also increase, an example being perphenazine. Under the conditions of our investigation, trimethoxybenzamide does not appear to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting to a statistically significant degree although a further trial using a double dose may alter this opinion. The routine preoperative administration of anti-emetics is not justified except in certain cases, such as in cataract and facial surgery where post-operative vomiting might prove disastrous.

The trimethoxybenzamide hydrochloride (HCl) was supplied, and its trial supported, by the Hoffman-LaRoche Company, Montreal.

Note:

Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Anaesthetists' Society, Montebello, P.Q., May 8–11, 1961.