[Prevention and treatment of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage with cimetidine and somatostatin in intensiv care patients (author's transl)].

Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage is a severe problem in patients in surgical intensive care units. Good experimental and clinical results are reported with somatostatin (somatotropin release inhibitoring factor) and cimetidine (H2-receptor antagonist) in prevention and treatment of acute gastrointestinal bleeding, by blocking gastric acid secretion. These experiences are confirmed with an open trial in 13 seriously ill surgical patients. First of all cimetidine can be recommended because of its mode of action and application.