Action of metoclopramide on gastric emptying and small bowel transit time.

Studies on animals and in man indicate that metoclopramide increases the gastric emptying rate, has a potent antiemetic effect, and is virtually free of side effects (Boisson and Albot, 1966). A substance with such attributes would obviously be very useful in clinical radiology. A preliminary study made on 95 consecutive patients referred for barium meal examination supported these findings. Of 47 patients who received 20 mg metoclopramide intravenously, 18 showed complete gastric emptying in one hour and in 32 the barium had reached the caecum in one hour, while of the remaining 48 who did not receive this substance only one showed complete gastric emptying at one hour and in only six did the barium reach the caecum in this time. These results were sufficiently encouraging to merit confirmation by double blind trial. Observations were also made on the antiemetic effect of metoclopramide in a group of patients undergoing intravenous cholangiography.