Cimethidine pre-anesthetic. A prophylactic method against Mendelson's syndrome in cesarean section
Qvist, N.; Storm, K.
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 62(2): 157-159
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6349 PMID: 6346782 Document Number: 203485
Patients [20] undergoing cesarean section received cimetidine 400 mg i.m. as pre-anesthetic approximately 70 min prior to gastric aspiration. The average pH was 5.05, as against 2.97 in the control group (P < 0.01). No significant reduction in the aspirated volumes was observed. In the cimetidine group the proportion of patients at risk of developing Mendelson's syndrome (pH < 2.5 and volume > 25 ml) was significantly reduced, namely 5% as against 42% in the control group (P = 0.014). No perinatal effects attributable to cimetidine were observed in the infants. Cimetidine is a safe and useful preanesthetic for patients undergoing cesarean section, irrespective of indication and, consequently, much to be prefered to oral antacids.