Nursal et al. (2007)

USA

RCT

PEDro=9

N=19

Population: TBI; Control Group (n=9): Mean Age=43 yr; Gender: Male=8, Female=1; Mean GCS Score=8.9. Treatment Group (n=10): Mean Age=43.8 yr; Gender: Male=8, Female=2; Mean GCS Score=7.7.

Intervention: Patients in the treatment group were administered 10 mg (2 mL) IV metoclopramide 3x/day for 5 days. The control group received the same volume of control saline solution for the same duration.

Outcome Measures: Paracetamol absorption test, amount of calories supplied, intolerance and/or complication rates.

1.        Amount of oral/enteral calories in relation to the total number of calories received during the first 5 days was higher for those in the control group (p=0.043).

2.        There were no differences between the groups in both feeding intolerance and complication rates (p=0.543 and p=0.930, respectively).

3.        There was no significant difference between the groups when looking at the results of the paracetamol absorption test.

4.        When looking at absorption parameters, those in the treatment group had levels that were slightly more pronounced than those in the control group.