[Duodenogastric reflux and stress ulcer]

Duodenogastric reflux in 14 patients in an intensive care unit was compared with that in 12 healthy controls. In addition, intragastric bromsulphalein concentration was measured up to 60 minutes after intravenous administration. Reflux was much more frequent in the intensive-care patients and correlated with the incidence of gastric erosions and stress ulcers. Reflux is apparently one of three factors (in addition to ischaemia and HCl) which synergistically lead to stress-induced lesions of the gastric mucosa.