No abstract

We evaluated the effect of transdermal scopolamine on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vertigo after outpatient ear surgery (exploratory tympanotomy, mastoidectomy, or endolymphatic sac and oval and round window surgery) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A transdermal patch containing either scopolamine (n = 19) or placebo (n = 20) was placed behind the nonsurgical ear 2 h before surgery. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental (4-6 mg/kg intravenously [i.v.]), sufentanil (0.5 microgram/kg i.v.), and vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg i.v.) and maintained with isoflurane (0.2%-2%) and nitrous oxide (70%) in oxygen. Patients were observed postoperatively in the recovery room and after discharge for 72 h. There was no significant difference between groups with respect to time in recovery room, time to discharge, incidence of in-house nausea, vomiting, amount of antiemetics required, or postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores while in the hospital. After discharge, there were lower VAS nausea scores (by repeat measures analysis, P < 0.05) and a lower reported incidence of nausea (31% vs 62%; P < 0.05) and vertigo (6.2% vs 25%; P < 0.05) in the active patch group versus the placebo group. There was a higher incidence of dry mouth in the active patch group (44% vs 25%). Seven patients did not complete the study due to failure to keep the patch in place or failure to return the diary from home; and one patient from the placebo patch group was admitted for uncontrolled nausea and vomiting. The authors concluded that transdermal scopolamine is effective in reducing, but not eliminating, postoperative nausea and vertigo after discharge in outpatient ear surgery.

Gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation, platelet inhibition with altered haemostasis, and renal impairment are among the list of adverse effects associated with the administration of ketorolac. The incidence of serious adverse events has declined since dosage guidelines were revised. Most of the published literature suggests that the overall risk of gastrointestinal or operative site bleeding related to ketorolac therapy is only slightly higher than with opioids. The risk for adverse events, however, increases with high doses, with prolonged therapy (>5 days) or in vulnerable patients (e.g. the elderly). Acute renal failure has been reported after ketorolac treatment but is usually reversible after discontinuation of the drug. As with other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ketorolac may trigger allergic or hypersensitivity reactions. Careful patient selection is essential if use of ketorolac is considered. Contraindications to ketorolac use include a history of, or current risk of, gastrointestinal bleeding, risk of renal failure, compromised haemostasis, hypersensitivity to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or other NSAIDs, labour, delivery and nursing. Ketorolac should be prescribed at the lowest dosage necessary to control pain; the duration of therapy should also be limited to as few days as possible. Practitioners should be familiar with, and follow, label warnings and dosage guidelines.