Silent regurgitation in day case gynaecological patients

The effect of metoclopramide premedication on the incidence of gastric regurgitation and postoperative nausea and vomiting was studied in 101 women during gynaecological procedures performed under mask anaesthesia. All patients were premedicated orally with carmine red and temazepam. A treatment group of 48 women also received oral metoclopramide. Anaesthesia was standardised in both groups. None of the women regurgitated gastric contents. Pharyngeal pH was measured in the last 68 patients and found to be greater than 5 in all instances. Postoperative nausea and vomiting were significantly less frequent in the treatment group.