[Effectiveness of cimetidine in the prevention of aspiration pneumonia in obstetrics].

In a prospective controlled study 30 parturients provided for elective cesarean section were premedicated either with no specific medication for prophylaxis of aspiration pneumonia or 400 mg cimetidine orally at the evening and 400 mg intramuscularly two hours prior to induction of anesthesia. In the cimetidine treated group only one patient had a gastric pH below 2.5, while in the control group 11 patients had a pH below this limit. The gastric volume in the cimetidine treated group also was significantly reduced. No side effects could be observed in mothers and children. Application of intramuscularly cimetidine seems to be an effective method for prophylaxis of aspiration pneumonia in obstetric anesthesia.