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The following is a summary of “Droperidol administration among emergency department patients with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting,” published in the November 2024 issue of Emergency Medicine by Ernst et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to examine droperidol usage patterns for individuals with abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting in an urban academic medical center.  

They extracted records of droperidol administrations from August 2019 to August 2020. Individuals presenting with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or a combination of these symptoms were analyzed.  

The results showed that between April 2019 and August 2020, 830 distinct visits involving droperidol administration were identified, corresponding to 706 individuals. The average age was 39 years, ranging from 15 to 80 years, 7 individuals (0.08%) were under 18, while 35 (4%) were over 65 with 565 (68%) of the majority in females. Droperidol doses varied from 0.625 mg to 5 mg intravenously (IV), with a median dose of 0.625 mg (interquartile range 0.625–1.25 mg). A total of 590 individuals (71%) received a 0.625 mg dose. Documented adverse events occurred in 19 individuals (2.3%), including 7 cases of akathisia or restlessness, 7 of anxiety or agitation, 3 of dystonia or stiffness, 1 of fatigue, and 1 of dizziness. No cardiac dysrhythmias, syncope, seizures, major adverse events, or fatalities were reported.  

Investigators concluded the droperidol was well-tolerated when used at lower doses for abdominal pain, nausea, and/or vomiting and did not lead to significant adverse events.  

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735675724003814