EFFECT OF SINGLE-DOSE OMEPRAZOLE AND RANITIDINE ON GASTRIC-JUICE ACIDITY AND VOLUME IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING LAPAROTOMY

The effects of oral omeprazole and oral ranitidine on gastric fluid vo lume and pH were compared in 95 elective surgical patients, randomly a ssigned to one of three groups. The patients received either 80 mg of omeprazole or 300 mg of ranitidine orally at 6.00 on the morning of su rgery. One third of the patients received no antacid therapy. Followin g induction, a no. 18 nasogastric tube was passed into the stomach and all available gastric fluid was aspirated. pH and volumes were measur ed. In the omeprazole- and ranitidine-treated groups, the mean pH was > 5.4 after induction, at completion of surgery and 1 h after operatio n, although at least one patient in both groups had pH < 2.5. The volu mes of gastric aspirates were reduced equally by both drugs. Two patie nts in the omeprazole group, none in the ranitidine group and eight in the control group (26%) had pH < 2.5 with volume > 25 ml at induction . Both drugs appeared to be effective in reducing the volume of intrag astric fluid and acidity to acceptable values.