[Cimetidine for treatment of stress-induced ulcer haemorrhage (author's transl)]

After gastroscopic demonstration of a definite source of bleeding (gastric or duodenal erosions or ulcers) 56 stress patients were treated with 1,200 mg cimetidine intravenously per day (constant infusion or 200 mg intravenously 4-hourly) in an open prospective study. Not considering 2 false indications because of arterial arrosion 46 patients were treated successfully with cimetidine. Bleeding could not be arrested in 7 cases and 2 of these succumbed, one of them despite repeated operations. In one patient bleeding was arrested; however, operation was necessary in the end due to perforation. Cimetidine has proved to be of value in conservative treatment of stress induced ulcer haemorrhage and is used increasingly prophylactically.