Ranitidine prophylaxis in acute gastric mucosal damage in critically ill pediatric patients

• Published in: Critical care medicine Vol. 16; no. 6; p. 591
• Main Authors: Lopez-Herce Cid, J, Albajara Velasco, L, Codoceo, R, Delgado Dominguez, M A, Jimenez, E, Ruza Tarrio, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-06-1988
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Critical Care; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Gastric Acid - metabolism; Gastric Mucosa - drug effects; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Injections, Intravenous; Intubation, Gastrointestinal; Male; Random Allocation; Ranitidine - administration & dosage; Ranitidine - therapeutic use; Risk Factors; Stomach Ulcer - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0090-3493
• DOI: 10.1097/00003246-198806000-00005

We determined the ranitidine dosage necessary to maintain gastric pH at or above 4 in 40 critically ill children. The patients were divided into four groups of ten patients each. They were treated with ranitidine in the following dosages: a) 2 mg/kg by NG tube every 12 h; b) 4 mg/kg by NG tube every 12 h; c) 0.75 mg/kg iv every 6 h; d) 1.5 mg/kg iv every 6 h. The fourth group had a higher median pH than the other groups, in spite of also having the highest risk of acute gastric mucosal damage (AGMD). Eight (80%) of ten patients in the fourth group had a pH greater than or equal to 4 or more than 80% of the study period. We recommend 1.5 mg/kg iv every 6 h for gastric acid inhibition in AGMD prophylaxis in children.