Efficacy of metoclopramide in postoperative ileus after exploratory laparotomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of metoclopramide for treatment of postoperative ileus in patients who underwent exploratory laparatomy.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study

SETTING

Surgical intensive care unit (SICU).

PATIENTS

Thirty-two patients who underwent exploratory laparatomy

INTERVENTION

Sixteen patients received metoclopramide, and 16 did not. The primary outcome was time to first postoperative bowel movement. Secondary end points were length of stay (LOS) in the SICU and total hospital LOS.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The mean number of days to first bowel movement was nearly identical for both the treatment group and control group (4.8 vs 4.7 days, respectively, p=0.93). Length of stay in the SICU was 8.3 days for the treatment group and 8.6 days for the control group (p=0.89), and total LOS was 18.0 and 20.1 days, respectively (p=0.63).

CONCLUSION

The time to first bowel movement was not significantly different between the treatment and control groups. Also, metoclopramide did not decrease LOS. Metoclopramide does not have a role in the treatment of postoperative ileus.