Narasimhan, RMittal, B RGupta, N M2002-07-162009-06-042002-07-162009-06-042002-07-16Narasimhan R, Mittal BR, Gupta NM. Effect of erythromycin and cisapride on emptying of the vagally denervated intrathoracic stomach. Tropical Gastroenterology. 2002 Jul-Sep; 23(3): 122-4http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/124347BACKGROUND: Subsequent to esophagectomy and reconstruction among patients with esophageal cancers, the intrathoracic denervated stomach acts as a passive conduit without peristalsis. OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to assess the impact of two prokinetic drugs viz. erythromycin and cisapride on the emptying of vagally denervated intrathoracic stomach. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients of carcinoma esophagus, who had undergone one stage transhiatal oesophagectomy with cervical esophagogastrostomy and were disease free at three months postoperative follow-up, were included in the study. These patients were randomised into two groups of ten each. The patients in group A received erythromycin, while patients in group B received cisapride. The gastric emptying was studied by scintigraphy, using a standard test meal containing 99m Tc sulphur colloid labelled 'IDLIS' [rice based radio labelled food] before and after the drug treatment. RESULTS: The pre and post treatment mean gastric half emptying time of the patients in the erythromycin group was 52.6 min and 49.7 min (p > 0.1) and in cisapride group it was 53.76 and 26.4 min respectively (p < 0.05). Intergroup comparison of the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Cisapride is an effective prokinetic agent in the treatment of gastric stasis of the vagally denervated intrathoracic stomach.engAdultCisapride --pharmacologyErythromycin --pharmacologyEsophageal Neoplasms --surgeryEsophagectomy --adverse effectsFemaleGastric Emptying --drug effectsGastrointestinal Agents --pharmacologyHumansMaleMiddle AgedStatistics, NonparametricStomach --innervationVagotomy --adverse effectsClinical Trial