J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2011 Jun;22(3):248-252.

Prophylactic Antiemetic Effect of Metoclopramide Against Intravenous Contrast Media-Induced Nausea in the Emergency Department

• Park HS
• Suh GJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
Iodine contrast media used in computed tomography (CT) often induces nausea in patients. This study evaluated the prophylactic effect of metoclopramide against nausea induced by intravenous contrast media.
METHODS
A prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial was performed in the emergency department of an urban teaching hospital. Adult patients(>15 years old), who required enhanced CT scans, were infused with 52 ml normal saline solution mixed with either 10 mg/2 ml metoclopramide or 2 ml normal saline over 10 minutes prior to the CT scan. After the scan, the patients were asked about nausea. Patients who had any other cause for their nausea or had received metoclopramide prior to the study were excluded.
RESULTS
In total, 69 patients were analyzed. The metoclopramide group contained 37 patients, and the placebo group contained 32 patients. Five patients in the placebo group complained of nausea(15.6%), whereas none of the patients in the metoclopramide group experienced nausea (Fisher's exact test, p=0.018).
CONCLUSION
Metoclopramide can prevent nausea induced by intravenous iodine contrast media.

Keyword

Computed tomography; Contrast media; Metoclopramide

MeSH Terms

Adult
Antiemetics
Contrast Media
Emergencies
Hospitals, Teaching
Humans
Iodine
Metoclopramide
Nausea
Prospective Studies
Sodium Chloride
Antiemetics
Contrast Media
Iodine
Metoclopramide
Sodium Chloride