Treatment of acute alcoholic pancreatitis: the roles of cimetidine and nasogastric suction.
A double-blind prospective controlled study designed to determine the effectiveness of the addition of cimetidine to standard treatment of acute alcoholic pancreatitis and to determine the importance of nasogastric suction in this disorder was undertaken. Forty-five patients were randomized to one of four treatment groups: 1) group I received intravenous cimetidine plus a blinded nasogastric tube, 2) group II received intravenous cimetidine plus nasogastric suction, 3) group III received nasogastric suction plus cimetidine placebo, and 4) group IV received a blinded nasogastric tube plus cimetidine placebo. Patients were evaluated via both biochemical and clinical parameters. It was concluded that 1) cimetidine added to more traditional therapy does not hasten improvement in patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis, 2) cimetidine may delay recovery as measured by both clinical and biochemical measurements, 3) nasogastric suction appears indicated, under most circumstances, only in those patients with ileus and/or nausea and emesis.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D013396:Suction
D002927:Cimetidine