Authors: Ryan Ernst, Holden Wagstaff, Mckayla Smith, Liam O'Brien, Hannah Mainor, Troy Madsen
Journal: American Journal of Emergency Medicine, August 2024
Conclusion: Droperidol is commonly used at this institution for treating abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, with a predominant IV dosing below the FDA’s 2.5 mg warning threshold. Adverse events were rare, and no major safety concerns such as dysrhythmia or death were noted. This suggests droperidol may be a safe and effective option for these conditions in the emergency department setting.
Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted using records from August 2019 to August 2020. The study included patients who received droperidol and had a chief complaint of abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting, or any combination thereof.
Results:
- A total of 830 patient visits involving droperidol administration were identified, encompassing 706 unique patients.
- The average age of patients was 39 years, ranging from 15 to 80 years. Seven patients (0.08%) were younger than 18, and 35 (4%) were older than 65. The majority (68%) of patients were female.
- Droperidol doses ranged from 0.625 mg to 5 mg intravenously (IV), with a median dose of 0.625 mg (interquartile range 0.625-1.25 mg). Most patients (71%) received 0.625 mg.
- Only 19 patients (2.3%) experienced documented adverse events, including akathisia/restlessness (7 patients), anxiety/agitation (7 patients), dystonia/stiffness (3 patients), fatigue (1 patient), and dizziness (1 patient).
- No major adverse events such as cardiac dysrhythmia, syncope, seizures, or fatalities were recorded for any of the patients.