ABSTRACT
Objectives: Patients admitted in intensive care unit [ICU] are at high risk of developing stress gastric ulceration and so are liable to be exposed to ulcer prophylaxis drugs side effects. The aim of the present study was to study the benefits and possible side effects of Ranitidine as acid suppressive drug used in pediatric ICU [PICU]
Methods: This study was carried out on forty patients admitted in PICU at Alexandria University Children's Hospital [AUCH]. patients were divided into 2 groups each was 20 in number, Ranitidine was given only to one group. Both were subjected to full clinical evaluation. Duodenal aspirate was obtained via upper gastrointestinal [GI] endoscopy and examined for bacterial overgrowth in patients received Ranitidine. Stool was examined for occult blood to detect possible mucosal injury for all patients in both groups
Results: Out of 20 children received Ranitidine 9 [45%] showed bacterial colonization in their duodenal aspirate. Fifty five percent of cases who did not receive Ranitidine suffered from stress gastric injury in our study. Mechanical ventilation and shock are possible risk factors for stress gastric injury
Conclusion: Patients admitted to PICU are at high risk to develop stress gastric injury, so acid suppressive therapy is needed. Ranitidine is a good prophylactic drug against stress gastritis with possibility to develop small intestinal bacterial overgrowth [SIBO]