Acid aspiration prophylaxis in morbidly obese patients: famotidine vs. ranitidine.

Famotidine and ranitidine were compared as agents for the prevention of acid aspiration syndrome in 32 morbidly obese patients undergoing vertical banded gastroplasty. Single-dose oral famotidine or double-dose oral ranitidine were administered on a random basis before surgery. Gastric contents were aspirated through a gastric tube, manually aided by the surgeon with the abdomen open. Mean (SD) gastric volumes were 13.8 ml (6.7) and 12.1 ml (13.0) for the famotidine and ranitidine groups, respectively. Mean (SD) gastric pH values were 6.2 (1.5) and 6.8 (1.5), respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups and no patient was considered 'at risk' (pH less than 2.5 and gastric volume greater than 25 ml). We conclude that single-dose oral famotidine and double-dose oral ranitidine are equally effective for preventing acid aspiration syndrome in morbidly obese patients.