چكيده لاتين :
Background: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding remains a
problem in critically ill-newborns. The use of H2 blockers, by
maintaining gastric pH ~ 4, reduces the risk of stress-ulceration
and gastric hemorrhage. This study therefore, has evaluated
the effects of short-term prophylactic ranitidine in controlling
gastric pH and prevention of GI bleeding in neonates.
Methods: This randomized controlled study was carried out
on 80 neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ward
of Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. They were randomly divided
into case and control groups and their gastric pH, stool
occult blood and macroscopic bleeding were determined. Intravenous
ranitidine was administrated (5 mg/kg/day) for four
days in case group. Their gastric pH was measured before, one
Ius, and two or three days after injection and successful prophylactic
treatment was considered if gastric pH was ~ 4.
Results: Upper GI bleeding was observed in 41% of all patients.
After ranitidine, there was a significant increase in gastric
pH which accompanied with the reduction of the frequency
of upper GI bleeding. Furthermore, no significant changes were
noted in gastric pH of control group.
Conclusion: Prophylaxis with ranitidine seems to reduce the
frequency of upper GI bleeding by significantly increasing
gastric pH.
