Intraperitoneal and intragastric norepinephrine instillation in massive gastrointestinal bleeding--clinical study. Preliminary report.

Intraperitoneal and intragastric instillation of norepinephrine in high concentration can arrest bleeding of various origins in the gastrointestinal tract. Of the 21 cases studied, the hemorrhage was controlled in 80% of cases. This form of therapy is simple, prompt, safe and can be performed as a bed-side therapeutic procedure to stop life-threatening gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Intraperitoneal instillation of norepinephrine should not be used more than once, if the bleeding is not controlled. Intragastric norepinephrine instillations may be repeated any number of times if required.