Objectives: Blood in stomach \& oesophagus in patients with variceal bleeding often obscures the endoscopic view \& makes endoscopic intervention difficult to perform. Erythromycin, a motilin agonist induces gastric emptying. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Erythromycin on endoscopic visibility and its outcome.
Methods: Adult patients with liver cirrhosis or stigmata of chronic liver disease presenting with hematemesis and or melena within previous 12 hours were randomized in a double blind trial to receive either 125 mg erythromycin or placebo 30 minutes before endoscopy. The primary end points were endoscopic visibility assessed by objective scoring system \& mean endoscopy duration. Secondary end points were need for repeat endoscopy and blood transfusions within 24 hours of first endoscopy , endoscopy related complications and length of hospital stay.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
102
The patients in erythromycin group received intravenous bolus infusion of 125 mg of erythromycin lactobionate in 50 ml of normal saline
patients in placebo group 50ml of normal saline over 10 minutes, 1/2 hour before endoscopy.
King Abdul Aziz Medical City
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The primary end point was to determine the effect of erythromycin on gastric cleansing and thereby quality of endoscopic visualization, reflecting the ease with which the procedure was performed in a clear stomach.
Time frame: For upto 45 minutes from start to end of endoscopy
The secondary end points were; 1. the need for second look endoscopy & number of blood units transfused within 24 hours after initial endoscopy; 3. Incidence of endoscopy & drug related complications and length of hospital stay.
Time frame: Five to seven days of hospitalization
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