[Intragastric pH increase using antacids or secretin for stress ulcer prevention in surgical risk patients]

The efficacy of an antacid or synthetic secretion on elevations in intragastral pH above 4 was tested in a controlled prospective study. 21 surgical high risk patients received an antacid, and 17 secretin. Antacid prophylaxis resulted in a significantly higher intragastral pH than with secretin. This was especially true in patients with several risk factors. The percentage of secretin patients with a pH reduction below 4 was higher. An increase in dosage was necessary in 4 of the 17 patients receiving secretin and in none of those receiving antacids. One stress ulcer hemorrhage occurred during secretin infusion.