Effect of Perphenazine on Postoperative Emesis

Emesis during the immediate postoperative period creates three major hazards: dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and delayed alimentation. In addition the stress during retching and vomiting may disrupt fresh wounds, in particular those of the upper abdomen. It therefore seems desirable to seek medication which may offer alleviation of this rather common aftermath of systemic anesthesia and surgical therapy.

Attempts to protect dogs against vomiting induced by apomorphine have shown that perphenazine has significantly greater antiemetic potency than other phenothiazines in current use.^1,2 In the human, clinical experience reported by others^3-5 supports its effectiveness. Prophylactic or therapeutic administration of perphenazine has been shown to be extremely effective when given parenterally before or after surgery to protect against postoperative emesis. In double-blind studies among surgical patients, perphenazine reduced the incidence of emesis from 18% to 6% in a series of 610 patients,⁶ from 48% to 25% in a series of