title: To determine the effect of metoclopramide on gastric emptying in severe head injuries: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial.
abstract: To determine the effect of 8-hourly administration of 10 mg intravenous metoclopramide, over a 48-h period on gastric emptying in severe head injury (SHI), 22 patients were prospectively randomized (Glasgow Coma Score of 3-8) to receive 2 ml of intravenous metoclopramide or 2 ml of 5% saline 8-hourly for 48 h. Baseline and serial blood paracetamol absorption assays were performed at time (t) = 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min on day 0 and day 2. The area under the curve between the day 0 and day 2 was used to measure the degree of gastric emptying. In SHI, sequential doses of metoclopramide did not appear to improve gastric motility within subject comparisons (p = 0.65) and between subject comparisons (placebo p = 0.4 and drug p = 0.12). Metoclopramide has no significant prokinetic effect on gastric emptying in SHI patients when given in the early postinjury period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics, Wentworth Hospital, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kiratu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nathoo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D008787:Metoclopramide