BACKGROUND: To investigate the controlling efficacy of ondasetron and haloperidol in regard to the postcardiotomy delirium. METHODS: We included in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study 80 patients who developed delirium after heart surgery with the application of heart lung-machine. The patients were divided into two, equally-sized groups, which on detection of delirium received ondasetron 8 mg iv or haloperidol 5 mg iv respectively. The statistical analysis compared the baseline and demographic characteristics of the two groups (age, gender, comorbidities, years of education, type of surgery etc.). RESULTS: Both ondasetron and haloperidol had very good delirium controlling effects, without statistically significant differences. DISCUSSION-CONCLUSIONS: Ondasetron and haloperidol are efficient agents as far as the treatment of postcardiotomy delirium is concerned. As, in addition, ondasetron bares milder side-effects, we believe this could be the agent of choice in patients developing postcardiotomy delirium in the future.
Cardiac Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Delirium/drug therapy , Haloperidol/therapeutic use , Ondansetron/therapeutic use , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Analysis of Variance , Delirium/etiology , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Neuropsychological Tests , Postoperative Complications/drug therapy , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Prospective Studies
