Prophylaxis for Mendelson's syndrome before elective caesarean section. A comparison of cimetidine and magnesium trisilicate mixture regimens.

A clinical trial was conducted in which patients undergoing elective Caesarean section received eitherrr oral cimetidine 400 mg or magnesium trisilicate mixture BPC 20 ml before anaesthesia. The pH values of gastric fluid were significantly higher and the incidence of pH less than 2.5 was significantly lower in patients who received magnesium trisilicate mixture BPC. No adverse effects were observed in newborn infants whose mothers had received cimetidine and there was no significant difference in pH values of gastric fluid from the newborn in the two groups. The findings suggest that as a means of prophylaxis for Mendelson's syndrome in patients undergoing elective Caesarean section, magnesium trisilicate mixture BPC 20 ml is more effective than a single oral dose of cimetidine 400 mg, administered in the manner described.