THE EFFECT OF ORAL CISAPRIDE PREMEDICATION ON FASTING GASTRIC VOLUMES

The aim of this study was to determine whether fasting gastric volumes could be reduced by preoperative administration of cisapride. One hun dred and twenty-one patients undergoing elective general anaesthesia w ere randomly allocated to receive either cisapride 20 mg plus diazepam 10 mg or placebo tablets plus diazepam 10 mg, two hours prior to indu ction. Immediately following induction blind gastric aspiration was pe rformed using a 16Fr multiorificed orogastric tube. Gastric volume, pH and cisapride blood concentration were measured at this time, Gastric volumes were significantly smaller in the cisapride group, 20.5 (SD 2 2.2) ml compared to placebo 28.2 (SD 26.0) ml but there was no signifi cant difference with respect to pH. Some patients in both groups had l arge gastric volumes despite fasting. No significant adverse effects w ere noted with cisapride.