[Radiological and electromanometrical evaluation of the action of bromopride on gastric emptying and lower esophageal sphincter pressure in the immediate postoperative period of duodenal ulcer surgery].

The effect of bromopride on gastric emptying and lower esophageal sphincter pressure was studied in 18 patients after truncal or selective vagotomy (9 of each), antrectomy and gastroduodenostomy at the lesser curvature for treatment of complicated duodenal ulcer. In 10 out of 18 patients, the gastric emptying and the lower esophageal sphincter pressure after IM administration of bromopride (10 mg) at 8 hours intervals, did not differ significantly from that obtained in 10 controls treated by the same surgical procedure. This may be explained by insufficient blood levels, since the data were obtained several hours after administration of the drug. In the remaining 8 patients, bromopride 10 mg IM 30 minutes before manometry induced a significant increase of the lower esophageal sphincter pressure, when compared to values measured just prior to the administration of the drug. Gastric emptying, however, was not significantly altered. This could be due to inaccuracy of the method to evaluate slight modifications of this parameter, since it is impossible to promote rapid emptying of a hypotonic stomach, except by mechanical means.