Omeprazole versus ranitidine plus somatostatin in the treatment of severe gastroduodenal bleeding: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

In a randomized, controlled clinical trial omeprazole was compared with ranitidine plus somatostatin in the treatment of severe acute gastrointestinal bleeding due to peptic pathology. Intravenous infusion of the drugs was administered until clinical stabilization or surgical operation. The two regimens were equally effective in controlling bleeding. The need for blood transfusion and surgical operation together with the mortality rate did not differ significantly between groups. No toxic effects were observed as a result of the infusion of omeprazole. In this study the infusion of omeprazole alone showed an efficacy comparable to the association of ranitidine and somatostatin in the treatment of severe acute peptic bleeding.