Intramuscular injection of metoclopramide decreases the gastric transit time and does not increase the complete examination rate of capsule endoscopy: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Capsule endoscopy (CE) reaches the cecum in about 80% of cases. Decreasing the gastric transit time (GTT) may increase the complete examination rate (CER).

METHODOLOGY

Patients (n=177) were prospectively randomized into 2 groups: the control group (n=88) and the intramuscular injection with metoclopramide (IIM) group (n=89). The OMOM CE system, which has the function of real-time monitoring, was used. The patients were injected with metoclopramide 15 minutes before swallowing the CE in the IIM group. The CE would be sent into the duodenum by gastroscopy if the GTT reached 120 minutes in the two groups.

RESULTS

No significant difference was noted between the two groups. Of the 169 cases without gastroscopic help, the mean GTT was shorter in the IIM group (n=87) than the control group (n=82) (p=0.002). But the CER was similar. Of 135 cases without gastroscopic help but reached the cecum, the mean GTT was shorter in the IIM group (n=71) than the control group (n=64) (p=0.015). But the mean small bowel transit time (SBTT) was similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Intramuscular injection of metoclopramide decreases the gastric transit time, but it does not change the SBTT or CER of capsule endoscopy in our study.