Noradrenaline in upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. A prospective, randomized, double blind controlled clinical trial

The effect of noradrenaline (8 mg in 100 ml cold saline) gastric lavage was compared with that of cold saline alone in 42 patients with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in a prospective, randomized, double blind study. Fifty three per cent (11/21) of the patients given noradrenaline stopped bleeding within two hours of treatment compared with 14% (3/21) of those given saline alone. We suggest that noradrenaline gastric lavage is a simple, safe and effective method for controlling upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and could be used with advantage in peripheral hospitals in tropical countries.