Abstract
Nausea and vomiting associated with antineoplastic chemotherapy are distressing and may keep patients from complying with chemotherapy protocols. No drug has emerged among many as an effective antiemetic. It has been speculated that propofol may have intrinsic antiemetic properties. We report the use of low-dose continuous infusion propofol in three oncology patients to treat chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting. A bolus of 0.1 mg · kg−1 followed by a continuous infusion of 1 mg · kg−1 hr−1 was effective in both prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting. All three patients were alert, reported low nausea scores by visual analogue scale, and had no episodes of vomiting. When the infusion was discontinued, nausea and vomiting were noted in two patients. Propofol, given in a subanaesthetic infusion, was safe and effective as an antiemetic in these three patients.
Résumé
Les nausées et vomissements associés à la chimiothérapie antinéoplasique sont affligeants et peuvent empêcher les patients d’être fidèles aux protocoles de chimiothérapie. Aucun médicament nes ’est avéré être un antiémétique efficace. Il a été suggéré que le propofol peut avoir des propriétés intrinsèques antiémétiques. Nous rapportons l’ utilisation d’une perfusion continue de propofol à bas dosage, chez trois patients oncologiques, afin de traiter les nausées et vomissements associés à la chimiothérapie. Un bolus de 0,1 mg · kg−1 suivi d ’une infusion continue de 1 mg · kg−1 · h−1 était efficace pour la prévention et le traitement des nausées et vomissements. Les trois patients étaient alertes, avaient des pointages bas pour la nausée sur une échelle visuelle analogue et n ’avaient aucun épisode de vomissement. Lorsque l’infusion a été cessée, des nausées et vomissements ont été notés chez deux patients. Le propofol, lorsque donné à l’aide d’une infusion subanesthésique, était sécuritaire et efficace en tant qu’antiémétique chez ces trois patients.
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Scher, C.S., Amar, D., McDowall, R.H. et al. Use of propofol for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis in oncology patients. Can J Anaesth 39, 170–172 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03008650
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03008650