Abstract

Stress related mucosal damage to the upper gastrointestinal tract remains a frequent complication in critically ill patients. High risk patients can be identified and are candidates for routine prophylactic treatment. Cimetidine and antacids are the drugs most often administered for prevention. In the present study in order to prevent stress-related gastric mucosal damage, experimental administration of intragastric omeprazole and intraperitoneal ranitidine has been tested. Acute mucosal damage developed 87.5% in control group rats and 25% in omeprazole and 37.5% in ranitidine group. The mean ulcer index was significantly higher in control group than others (p<0.001). The mean ulcer index in ranitidin group was higher than the omeprazole group, but the difference was insignificant (p>0.05). Total acidity in the control group was significantly higher than both the omeprazole and ranitidine group (p<0.05), and pH was significantly lower in control group (p<0.05). Finally both omeprazole and ranitidine is effective for prevention of experimental stress-related mucosal damage.