Effects of rabeprazole or famotidine during cardiac surgery on perioperative gastric and esophageal pH readings.
OBJECTIVES: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly from a stress-induced duodenal ulcer, is an extremely important perioperative complication in cardiovascular surgery. METHODS: In the present study, 33 patients undergoing elective open heart surgery between July 2000 and February 2001 were allocated to either a famotidine (FAM) or rabeprazole (RPZ) group to examine the perioperative gastric and esophageal pH readings, in conjunction with an investigation into the effect of infection with Helicobacter pylori (HP). RESULTS: Postoperative upper gastrointestinal bleeding did not occur in either group, and the intraoperative and postoperative mean gastric pH readings, as well as the holding time pH>6, suggested sufficient acid suppression by either drug. Gastric acid secretion was less strongly suppressed in HP-negative patients in the FAM group, but was unaffected by HP infection status in the RPZ group. CONCLUSION: The FAM group and RPZ group revealed a sufficient effect of gastric acid suppression. It was indicated that FAM had an insufficient effect of gastric acid suppression for HP-negative patients.