BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common problems in patients undergoing outpatient laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. Associated complications range in severity from mild discomfort to hospital admission for dehydration or pulmonary aspiration. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of 2 antiemetics (metoclopramide and ondansetron) with propofol as the induction agent for prophylaxis of postoperative emesis in women undergoing general anesthesia for gynecologic endoscopic surgery. METHODS: One hundred and twenty six healthy women undergoing laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery with general anesthesia were randomized to receive intravenous bolus of saline 2 ml, metoclopramide 10 mg, ondansetron 4 mg prior to induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with propofol 2~2.5 mg/kg, vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg and maintained with O2, N2O, enflurane, fentanyl 1~2 microgram/kg. The incidence of nausea and vomiting was assessed at recovery room and all patients were contacted 24 hours after discharge. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV showed 11.9% in control group, 11.9% in metoclopramide group and 9.5% in ondansetron group in recovery room. The incidence of PONV showed 14.3% in control group, 14.3% in metoclopramide group and 7.1% in ondansetron group in 24 hours postoperatively. There were no significant differences among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: When propofol was administered by intravenous induction agent, no antiemetic in this study was more efficacious than propofol alone in reducing PONV for women undergoing outpatient laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery.