A study of 13 patients with gastric tube in place after esophageal resection: use of omeprazole to decrease gastric acidity and volume.

STUDY

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether oral omeprazole 20 mg decreases the risk of aspiration pneumonia in patients with gastric tube reconstruction.

DESIGN

Consecutive study.

SETTING

Operation room of cancer center.

PATIENTS: Thirteen patients with gastric tube reconstruction for esophageal cancer.

INTERVENTIONS: Oral omeprazole 20 mg was given the night before surgery. A rapid-sequence induction with cricoid pressure was employed for induction of anesthesia. After tracheal intubation, a nasogastric catheter was inserted into the gastric tube and the contents were aspirated.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

The pH and volume of the gastric contents were measured. The pH and volume of the gastric tube contents were 4.5 +/- 1.6 (range from 2.5 to 7.0) and 9.5 +/- 10.2 mL (range from 0 to 30 mL), respectively. Food residue was recognized in nine patients. There was no patient with a pH below 2.5 and a volume of 25 mL or greater.

CONCLUSIONS

Omeprazole 20 mg decreased the acidity and volume of the gastric tube contents and reduced the risk of aspiration pneumonia in patients with a gastric tube in place.