Does Metoclopramide Reduce Variceal Pressure?

out, should give a better evaluation of its diagnostic and therapeutic value in patients who are to undergo biliary surgery. (1987) Prospective randomised study of pre-operastive endoscopic sphincterotomy versus surgery alone for common bile duct stones. (1987) Study of common bile duct exploration and endoscopic sphincterotomy in a consecutive series of 438 patients. (1988) Surgical versus endoscopic management of common bile duct stones. cholangiography and stone removal prior to cholecystectomy. Reduction of transmural oesophageal variceal pressure by metoclopramide. In nineteen patients with portal hypertension and oesophageal varices, transmural variceal blood pressure was determined endoscopically by direct puncture of the varices before and after intravenous administration of 20 mg metoclopramide or placebo. No change in pressure was observed after placebo (mean difference-1.3 _ _. 24.5%, N.S.), however, metociopramide reduced the pressure by 17.6 _+ 18.6% (p 0.02). Our results suggest that metociopramide may be beneficial for the prevention of treatment of variceal haemorrhage.