Acid aspiration prophylaxis in Australian obstetric hospitals--a survey.

During 1987 a confidential survey of all hospitals in Australia providing obstetric services was undertaken to determine the antacid medications used routinely as prophylaxis against acid aspiration pneumonitis. Of the 567 hospitals surveyed, 379 (67%) responded. Of these, 243 hospitals provide an obstetric service which includes caesarean section, and 67% of these perform less than 500 deliveries per annum. Aspiration prophylaxis during labour was used in 22.4% of responding hospitals. Prior to elective caesarean section, 11.5% used no prophylaxis, and 39.4% used particulate antacids such as magnesium trisilicate mixture (33.3%) or Mylanta (6.1%). Sodium citrate mixture was the most popular therapy (37%). Results were similar in the emergency caesarean section group. The use of cimetidine or ranitidine was uncommon in all groups. Results of this survey suggest marked differences in attitudes towards acid aspiration prophylaxis between Australian and British obstetric anaesthetic practices.