Metoclopramide and gastric emptying.

Sir,—In view of increasing interest in the effect of metoclopramide on the gastric emptying rate, may I briefly describe the results of a short trial carried out in the clinical situation as an addition to the information so far available on a drug action which could be of importance to anaesthesia. Under double-blind conditions, 39 patients appearing consecutively for emergency surgery were given intravenously, 1-2 hours before operation, the contents of randomly numbered ampoules containing normal saline or metoclopramide 5 mg/mL The dosage of metoclopramide given was 1.5 mg/10 kg. No other medication was given and any patients with evidence of intestinal obstruction were excluded from the trial. Following the induction of anaesthesia, a wide-bore stomach tube was passed and the gastric contents aspirated as thoroughly as possible. The quantities were measured. It was felt that the inaccuracies occurring at this stage would affect both groups equally.