A COMPARISON OF THE FREQUENCY OF STRESS ULCERATION AND SECONDARY PNEUMONIA IN SUCRALFATE-TREATED OR RANITIDINE-TREATED INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT PATIENTS

Objective: To compare the frequency of acute stress ulceration and secondary pneumonia caused by aerobic Gram-negative bacilli in ICU patients treated with either sucralfate or ranitidine. Design: Prospective, randomized study. Setting: ICU, university hospital. Patients: Sixty adult patients who were mechanically ventilated and at risk of developing stress ulceration. Intervention: The patients were randomized to receive either sucralfate (1 g every 6 hrs) via the nasogastric tube or iv ranitidine (50 mg every 6 hrs). If the gastric pH was < 3.5 in the latter group, 30 mL of 0.3M sodium citrate was given via the nasogastric tube. Measurements and Main Results: On admission, the frequency rate of erosion/ulceration (assessed with the endoscope) was 13.5%. After 4 days, this rate had increased to 18% in sucralfate-treated patients and 36% in ranitidine-treated patients (NS). Mean gastric pH was more alkaline in the ranitidine-treated patients (5.50) compared with the sucralfate-treated patients (4.26) (p < .01). This pH permitted a higher occurrence rate of gastric colonization by aerobic Gram-negative bacilli in ranitidine-treated patients (64.3%) compared with sucralfate-treated patients (23.8%) (p < .01). Retrograde bacterial colonization from the stomach to oropharynx and trachea occurred more frequently in ranitidine-treated patients compared with sucralfate-treated patients. Ultimately, the occurrence rate of pneumonia was greater in the ranitidine-treated (35.7%) than in the sucralfate-treated patients (10.3%) (p < .05). Conclusion: Based on our findings, we recommend the adoption of sucralfate for routine prophylaxis against stress ulceration.