A double blind crossover study of metoclopramide versus placebo for facilitating passage of multipurpose biopsy tube.

Intravenous metoclopramide (M) was compared to placebo (P) by a double blind crossover design to determine whether M was superior to P in difficult cases of intubation of the small intestine, using a multipurpose biopsy tube and capsule. Metoclopramide decreased intubation time in 20 volunteers successfully intubated with M and P (P less than 0.05). Of 9 subjects, 8 were intubated to ligament of Treitz with M but not with P (P less than 0.01). Of 29 volunteers, 22 were successfully intubated by 15 min when M was given, but only 9 of the 29 could be intubated in 15 min with P (P less then 0.001). Of 29 volunteers receiving M, 9 experienced side effects but none were serious. This study demonstrated that M is superior to P in decreasing intubation time of a small intestinal biopsy capsule and is particularly useful in patients who may not otherwise be sucessfully intubated.