The effect of prophylactic use of famotidine, ranitidine, and sodium citrate in upper abdominal surgery.

The effects of famotidine (40 mg), ranitidine (300 mg) and sodium citrate (30 ml) on the gastric pH and volume were tested in 114 patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery. Gastric content was aspirated through a multiorifice tube immediately after intubation, at the end of operation and after a recovery room period of one hour. All three drug regimens significantly increased the mean gastric pH value compared with the control group. Famotidine and ranitidine reduced the volume of gastric content in comparison with sodium citrate and the control group. However, the difference was significant only in the recovery room sample.