Is metoclopramide beneficial for the postpyloric placement of nasoenteric tubes? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background Metoclopramide is frequently prescribed as an adjuvant for the postpyloric placement of nasoenteric tubes (NETs). However, a recent meta-analysis showed that metoclopramide was not beneficial in adults. Thus, this study aimed to reevaluate the effect of metoclopramide on the postpyloric placement of NETs. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang data was conducted up to August 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing metoclopramide with placebo or no intervention. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used for the primary outcomes (the success rate of the postpyloric placement of NETs). Results Seven eligible RCTs that included 520 participants were identified. The results of the pooled effect sizes showed that metoclopramide significantly facilitated the postpyloric placement of NETs (relative risk [RR], 1.48; 95% CI, 1.11-1.97; P = .007; I-2 = 37%). However, the risk-of-bias assessment and the TSA results indicated that the qualities of the RCTs and the sample sizes were insufficient to confirm the efficacy of metoclopramide. Further subgroup analysis revealed that successful postpyloric placement was more pronounced in studies in which spiral NETs were employed (RR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.41-2.43; P < .001; I-2 = 0%). Additionally, overall adverse events were minimal. Conclusions The evidence accumulated so far was not strong enough to demonstrate metoclopramide's beneficial effects on the postpyloric placement of NETs. Further high-quality, large-sample RCTs are required to elucidate the effects of metoclopramide.