RESUMO
To evaluate the efficacy of transdermal scopolamine patch in reducing nausea and vomiting associated with general anesthesia, we studied 60 healthy women undergoing major gynecologic surgery. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Each group was composed of 30 patients. Group I; not applied a transdermal scopolamine patch. Group II: applied one transdermal scopolamine patch on the skin behind her ear at the night before surgery. Anesthesia was induced by thiopental sodium(5 mg/kg) and succinylcholine(1.5 mg/kg) and maintained with fentanyl(3-6 ug/kg), enflurane(0.5-1.5 vol%) and nitrous oxide(50 vo1%) in oxygen. A comparison with Group I and Group II indicated that the transdermal scopolamine patch reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting associated with general anesthesia significantly(Group I; 36.67%, Group II; 13.33%, p<0.05).