TRANSDERMAL HYOSCINE WITH PATIENT-CONTROLLED ANALGESIA

Transdermal hvoscine (Scopoderm TTS CIBA) was compared with placebo in 67 patients receiving postoperative analgesia via a patient‐controlled analgesia system. All patients underwent an abdominal hysterectomy and had a standard anaesthetic. They were followed up in recovery and daily for 3 days postoperatively. Fewer patients in the hyoscine group suffered emetic sequelae in recovery and on the third postoperative day (p < 0.05). The hyoscine group received half the number of supplementary antiemetic doses compared to placebo. However, despite transdermal hyoscine there was still a high (78%) incidence of nausea and vomiting. The only significant (p < 0.05) increase in side effects attributable to hyoscine was a higher reported incidence of visual disturbance on the second day. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved