Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the gastric emptying (GE)of solids in patients with complete spinal cord injury(SCI) and to observe the therapeutic efficacy of DOMPERI-DONE (DOM) on delayed GE.Sixteen patients (6 high-cord, 10 low-cord) and 10 heslthy controls were studied.Radiopaque markers for studying GE were used, the markers retained in the stomach were counted and antral contractions were observed as well.Five patients with delayed GE took DOM 20 mg T.I.D.for 1 week, then the GE repeated.The GE was markedly delayed at 3.5 and 5 h postprandially in high-cord group compared with controls (P<0.001) but no significant difference was seen in low-cord group at 5 h postprandially (P=0.053).All the patients with delayde GE had decreased antral motility.After the oral administration of DOM the GE was greatly improved (P<0.05).We conclude that high-cord patients(above T₅) have delayed GE of solids, partial low-cord (below T₁₀)delay also, and DOM accelerates the GE.

Key words: high-spinsl cord injury (HSCI), low-spinal cord injury(LSCI), gastric emptying, domperidone