Pharmacological Emptying of the Stomach with Metoclopramide

Abstract

SummaryThis paper evaluates the use of metoclopramide (MaxoIon) in emptying human stomach contents into the duodenum and beyond. A method of quantitative assessment of content by barium swallow radiography is used in the study, and the method is recommended as a diagnostic manoeuvre in patients presenting for emergency surgery in whom the stomach content is in doubt.Oral metoclopramide was found effective in emptying stomachs challenged by water load, and the intravenous route has been found effective in emptying semisolid contents in emergency clinical situations. A radiographic scan of the resting stomach was made on patients waiting for routine surgery who had received a variety of common premedication; it was shown that significant residues occur.We believe that metoclopramide deserves further investigation in order to exploit its potential in reducing the hazard of regurgitation and vomiting in patients requiring emergency anaesthesia and surgery.

Effects of intravenous and oral propantheline and metoclopramide on ethanol absorption

“…Metoclopramide has been shown to increase gastric emptying with equal efficiency whether given orally or intravenously, 16,23 indicating that the drug is fully absorbed. The effects that we have recorded in our study on ethanol levels support this view.…”

Effect of intravenous metoclopramide on gastrooesophageal reflux

“…It accelerates gastric emptying (Jacoby and Brodie, 1967;Connell and George, 1969;Kreel, 1970; Howels, Khanam, Kreel, Seymour, Oliver, and Davies, 1971) and stimulates contraction of the small bowel (Tinker and Cox, 1969). These effects may be due to activation of intramural cholinergic motor mechanisms (Jacoby and Brodie, 1967;Eisner, 1968).…”

Preoperative fasting after soft drink intake: 2 hours may be enough

“…Trauma can delay gastric emptying [16], and it has been shown that the severity of the trauma is a more important determinant of the residual gastric volume than the fasting time [17]. The more severe the pain, the greater is the degree of stomach paralysis [18].…”