Pharmacological effects on gastric emptying following laparotomy in the rat.

Alteration of the gastrointestinal motility following abdominal surgery is a well substantiated clinical observation. Clinical reports concerning the effect of drugs theoretically suitable for normalizing inhibited gastric emptying during the postoperative period have been conflicting, however. The effect of chlorpromazine, neostigmine and metoclopramide upon retarded gastric emptying following laparotomy was studied in experiments on rats. Metoclopramide (Primperan) considerably improved the emptying ability of the stomach as early as 24 hours after laparotomy. After 72 hours this effect was further accentuated. No improvement of postoperatively retarded motility resulted from treatment with chlorpromazine or with neostigmine during the first 3 postoperative days.