Prophylactic antiemetic effect of midazolam after middle ear surgery.

Objective: To investigate the prophylactic antiemetic effect of midazolam after middle ear surgery.

Study Design: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Subjects And Methods: Ninety women patients undergoing middle ear surgery with general anesthesia received intravenously either midazolam 0.075 mg/kg or normal saline (n = 45 each) after induction of anesthesia. The incidence and severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting, rescue antiemetics, pain intensity, and side effects such as headache, dizziness, and drowsiness were assessed during the first 24 hours after anesthesia.

Results: Midazolam groups showed total incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting. Patients who required rescue antiemetics were significantly lower than in saline group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in pain intensity and side effects such as headache, dizziness, and drowsiness between groups.

Conclusions: Midazolam 0.075 mg/kg is effective for reducing nausea and vomiting after middle ear surgery.