Patient controlled analgesia with tramadol and tramadol/droperidol mixture after orbital operation: a double blind,randomized controlled trial

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and side effecs of tramadol and the mixture of tramadol and droperidol for postoperative patient-controlled analgesia(PAC).Methods Eighty patients,scheduled for elective orbital operation with inhalation general anesthesia(induced with fentanyl,midazolam and etomidate, maintained with isoflurane supplemented by intermittent iv fentanyl and vercuronium for muscle relaxation) were allocated into 2 groups 40 patients each in a random and double blind manner: groupⅠ(2 ml tramadol) and groupⅡ(2 ml tramadol plus droperidol), both with a lockout time of 30 minutes. The VAS, analgesic doses, and side effects were observed 24 and 48 hours after operation.Results Adequate analgesia was achieved with tramadol or the mixture of tramadol and droperidol. The nausea rates and vomiting rates at any time point in the groupⅡ were all significantly lower than those in the groupⅠ(all P0.01). No significant differences in VAS, sedation score or vital signs were observed (all P0.05).Conlusions Providing a similar quality of analgesia with less nausea and vomiting and little need for sedative, the combination of tramadol and droperidol is superior to tramadol alone for post-operative PCA.