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editorial
. 2025 Feb 28;31(8):102959. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i8.102959

Table 2.

Summary of randomized trials on gastroprotection in neurocritical patients

No
Ref.
Year
Study population
N
Intervention arm 1 (n)
Intervention arm 2 (n)
Intervention arm 3 (n)
Endpoints
Findings
1 Halloran et al[28] 1980 Severe TBI patients 50 Cimetidine (26) No prophylaxis (24) - GIB (NGT aspirate positive for blood) Overt GIB significantly lower in arm 1 compared to arm 2
2 Reusser et al[25] 1990 TBI and surgically managed ICH patients 40 Ranitidine (21) No prophylaxis (19) - Gastric pH > 4, endoscopic findings of ulcer, blood in NGT aspirates No difference in rate of stress ulcers or GIB between both arms
3 Metz et al[9] 1994 TBI patients 167 Ranitidine (86) No prophylaxis (81) - GIB (NGT aspirate positive for blood or malena/hematochezia). Nosocomial pneumonia Overt GIB significantly lower in arm 1 compared to arm 2. No difference in rates of pneumonia
4 Burgess et al[27] 1995 TBI patients 34 Ranitidine (16) No prophylaxis (18) - GIB (NGT aspirate positive for blood or malena/hematochezia) Overt GIB significantly lower in arm 1 compared to arm 2
5 Chan et al[26] 1995 Non traumatic neurosurgical patients 101 Ranitidine (48) No prophylaxis (52) - Serial endoscopic assessment to determine bleeding requiring transfusion or surgery Overt GIB significantly lower in arm 1 compared to arm 2
6 Misra et al[7] 2005 ICH 141 Ranitidine (45) Sucralfate (49) No prophylaxis (47) GIB (hematemesis, NGT aspirate positive for blood or malena/hematochezia), 1 month mortality No difference in GIB or 1 month mortality between arm 1, arm 2 compared to arm 3
7 Brophy et al[34] 2010 All patients admitted to the neurosurgery ICU 51 Lansoprazole (28) Famotidine (23) - The pH ≥ 4 and % of time gastric residuals was < 28 mL Arm 1 achieved pH ≥ 4 and fewer heme-positive aspirates more often than arm 2 only on day 1
8 Liu et al[37] 2013 Surgically treated ICH patients 165 Omeprazole (58) Cimetidine (54) No prophylaxis (53) UGIB hematemesis, aspiration of coffee-ground material from NGT or positive gastric occult blood or fecal occult blood testing, with or without hemodynamic instability from gross bleeding needing transfusion). Nosocomial pneumonia incidence Lower rate of UGIB in arm 1 compared to arm 2 and 3. No difference in rate of nosocomial pneumonia
9 Lee et al[35] 2014 Neuro ICU patients admitted post-op or Canonical Variates Analysis management 60 Esomeprazole (30) Famotidine (30) - Overt GIB and VAP 1 patient in arm 2 developed GIB and 1 from each arm developed VAP
10 Senapathi et al[36] 2019 TBI patients with Glasgow coma scale < 10 56 Omeprazole (28) Ranitidine (28) - Time to gastric pH > 3.5-5.0 and occult from NGT aspirates No significant difference in endpoints between both arms

GIB: Gastrointestinal bleeding; ICH: Intracerebral hemorrhage; ICU: Intensive care unit; NGT: Nasogastric tube; TBI: Traumatic brain injury; UGIB: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding; VAP: Velocity average path.