Objectives To determine whether 10 mg, 25 mg, or 50 mg metoclopramide combined with 8 mg dexamethasone, given intraoperatively, is more effective in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting than 8 mg dexamethasone alone, and to assess benefit in relation to adverse drug reactions. Design Four-armed, parallel group, double blind, randomised controlled clinical trial. Setting Four clinics of a university hospital and four district hospitals in Germany. Participants 3140 patients who received balanced or regional anaesthesia during surgery. Main outcome measures Postoperative nausea and vomiting within 24 hours of surgery (primary end point); occurrence of adverse reactions. Results Cumulative incidences (95% confidence intervals) of postoperative nausea and vomiting were 23.1% (20.2% to 26.0%), 20.6% (17.8% to 23.4%), 17.2% (14.6% to 19.8%), and 14.5% (12.0% to 17.0%) for 0 mg, 10 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg metoclopramide. In the secondary analysis, 25 mg and 50 mg metoclopramide were equally effective at preventing early nausea (0-12 hours), but only 50 mg reduced late nausea and vomiting ( > 12 hours). The most frequent adverse drug reactions were hypotension and tachycardia, with cumulative incidences of 8.8% (6.8% to 10.8%), 11.2% (9.0% to 13.4%), 12.9% (10.5% to 15.3%), and 17.9% (15.2% to 20.6%) for 0 mg, 10 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg metoclopramide. Conclusion The addition of 50 mg metoclopramide to 8 mg dexamethasone (given intraoperatively) is an effective, safe, and cheap way to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting. A reduced dose of 25 mg metoclopramide intraoperatively, with additional postoperative prophylaxis in high risk patients, may be equally effective and cause fewer adverse drug reactions. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN31625370.

SummaryThe movements of the upper cervical spine were measured by fluoroscopy in 20 patients during laryngoscopy with the Bonfils intubation fibrescope and the Macintosh laryngoscope. Laryngoscopy with both the Bonfils intubation fibrescope and the Macintosh laryngoscope resulted in significant extension of the cervical spine as compared to the neutral position but this extension was significantly less with the Bonfils intubation fibrescope than with the Macintosh (p = 0.001). However, the atlanto-occipital distance was significantly greater during laryngoscopy with the Bonfils intubation fibrescope (p = 0.002), and the angle between the occiput and C1 differed significantly between the two techniques (p = 0.001). With the Bonfils intubation fibrescope, significantly less extension was also found at the C1 ⁄ C2 and C3 ⁄ C4 levels (p = 0.001 and p = 0.049, respectively). There is therefore significantly less movement of the upper cervical spine during laryngoscopy with the Bonfils fibrescope compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope.

PONV lowers patient satisfaction but is treatable. The effective, evidence-based measures of preventing and treating it should be implemented in routine practice.

Context:Sleep deprivation is a common problem on intensive care units (ICUs) influencing not only cognition, but also cellular functions. An appropriate sleep-wake cycle should therefore be maintained to improve patients’ outcome. Multiple disruptive factors on ICUs necessitate the administration of sedating and sleep-promoting drugs for patients who are not analgo-sedated.Aims:The objective of the present study was to evaluate sleep quantity and sleep quality in ICU patients receiving either propofol or flunitrazepam.Settings and Design:Monocentric, randomized, double-blinded trial.Materials and Methods:A total of 66 ICU patients were enrolled in the study (flunitrazepam n = 32, propofol n = 34). Propofol was injected continuously (2 mg/kg/h), flunitrazepam as a bolus dose (0.015 mg/kg). Differences between groups were evaluated using a standardized sleep diary and the bispectral index (BIS).Statistical Analysis Used:Group comparisons were performed by Mann-Whitney U-Test. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results:Sleep quality and the frequency of awakenings were significantly better in the propofol group (Pg). In the same group lower BIS values were recorded (median BIS propofol 74.05, flunitrazepam 78.7 [P = 0.016]). BIS values had to be classified predominantly to slow-wave sleep under propofol and light sleep after administration of flunitrazepam. Sleep quality improved in the Pg with decreasing frequency of awakenings and in the flunitrazepam group with increasing sleep duration.Conclusions:Continuous low-dose injection of propofol for promoting and maintaining night sleep in ICU patients who are not analgo-sedated was superior to flunitrazepam regarding sleep quality and sleep structure.

Genetic variations in the HTR3A and HTR3B gene seem to be associated with the individual risk of developing POV. How strong their influence is within the multifactorial genesis of POV needs to be investigated in additional studies with an appropriate sample size.