Failure of gastric prophylaxis against stress bleeding reflects inadequate pH control

Gastric prophylaxis against stress ulceration with histamine 2 blockers or protein pump inhibitors is a quality standard in septic Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) patients to reduce gastric pH below 3.5. This study assesses the efficacy of gastric prophylaxis with pH monitoring.

A total of 100 patients were studied for 481 days. All received histamine 2 blockers or protein pump inhibitors. Daily pH control was judged as poor (1-3), moderate (4-5), or good (>5). Patients with poor pH received double-dose or an infusion gastric prophylaxis. Nasogastric tube bile or blood and transfusions for stress ulceration were recorded.

Gastric prophylaxis was poor for 37 days, moderate for 83 days, and good for 279 days. NGT blood occurred on 15 days (40%) with poor, 17 days (20%) with moderate, and 17 days (6%) with good control. Transfusions for stress ulceration occurred on 5 days (14%) during poor, 3 days (4%) during moderate, and 1 day (0.3%) during good control (P < .05). Enhanced gastric prophylaxis improved pH control and reduced nasogastric tube blood. Transfusion for stress ulceration after enhanced therapy was required on 1 day (8%) with poor control and never for moderate or good control.

Gastric prophylaxis against stress ulceration should be monitored by nasogastric tube pH.