[Drug prevention and therapy of acute gastroduodenal lesions (stress ulcers)]

The incidence of acute lesions of the gastroduodenal mucosa is high in intensive care patients. A disturbed balance between aggressive and defensive factors is the cause of the mucosal damage. H2-receptor antagonists reduce gastric acidity, the most important aggressive agent, and are, therefore, still the drugs of choice for the prevention of stress ulcerations. Bleeding from mucosal lesions is the most common complication of stress ulcers. In addition to endoscopic and surgical techniques to stop bleeding, and prevent rebleeding, medical treatment with drugs like omeprazole have gained importance in recent years.