Preventing stress ulcers
A variety of medical factors can create stress and place a patient at at risk of stomach and duodenal ulcerations and bleeding. Among the most common are prolonged mechanical ventilation, coagulopathy, multiple injuries, spinal cord injury, injury, acute renal failure, and administration of high-dose steroids. Prolonged ICU stay is a rsk factor. A variety of medicines to prevent stress ulcers have been studied These options are supported by the literature and guidelines: Histamine-2 receptor antagonists, Proton pump inhibitors , Cytoprotective agents. Several others have been found to be ineffective or harmful: Use of antacids has been associated with a potential increase in the risk of hemorrhage. Enteral feeding also has failed to show significant increases in gastric PH but some proponents remain.
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