Gastric fluid volume and pH: a comparison of effects of ranitidine alone with combination of ranitidine and metoclopramide in patients undergoing elective caesarean section

ABSTRACT

Seventy five patients undergoing elective caesarean section under general anaesthesia were randomly divided into three groups of twenty rive patients each to receive placebo [group I], H-2 receptor blocker, ranitidine [group 11] and combination of H-2 receptor blocker and prokinetic drug, metoclopramide [group III]. Gastric fluid volume >25 ml was recorded in sixteen [64%] patients in-group I, in three [12%] patients in-group 11 and in six [24%] patients in-group HL Gastric fluid pH <2.5 was recorded in sixteen [64%] patients in group I, in one [4%] patient in group H and no patient in group HL Group H and HI patients were not statistically significantly different [p-value < 0.05] regarding both the parameters but group I patients were at a high risk [60%] of aspiration pneumonitis when compared to group 11 and HI [p-value > 0.05]