Preoperative Olanzapine and Quality of Recovery after Ambulatory Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
AnesthesiologyMay 20, 2026 (epub)
John Guzzi, Tom Gugel, Claudia Fernandez Robles et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a single preoperative dose of 5 mg olanzapine on recovery quality in 384 female patients aged 18 to 50 undergoing ambulatory surgery. Results indicated that olanzapine significantly improved Quality of Recovery-40 scores on postoperative day 1 by 9.0 points compared to placebo (95% CI, 6.1 to 11.8; P < 0.001).
Key findings
- Olanzapine improved QoR-40 scores on POD 1 by 9.0 points compared to placebo.
- On POD 2, QoR-40 scores were 4.8 points higher with olanzapine.
- Olanzapine reduced the odds of any nausea on POD 1 (OR, 0.43).
- On POD 2, olanzapine reduced the odds of any nausea (OR, 0.48).
Why it matters
Improving recovery quality and reducing postoperative nausea can enhance patient satisfaction and outcomes after ambulatory surgery. This study suggests that olanzapine may be a beneficial adjunct to standard antiemetic prophylaxis.