The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Erythromycin for gastric emptying in patients undergoing general anesthesia for emergency surgery. A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Surg 2015; 150: 730-737.

Published: 15th December 2015

Authors: Czarnetzki C, Elia N, Frossard J-L, Giostra E, Spahr L, Waeber J-L et al. et al.

Conclusion

Some 137 patients were randomly allocated intravenous erythromycin 15min before endotracheal intubation. The erythromycin improved the chance that the stomach was empty on intubation (as assessed by endoscopy): 80 versus 64 per cent. It also increased gastric pH from 2 to 6 (P=0.002).

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