Proton Pump Inhibitors For Prophylaxis Research Articles

Association between preoperative proton pump inhibitor use and postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major surgery

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe postoperative complication in patients undergoing major surgery. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are used preoperatively as prophylaxis for postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding. Whether preoperative PPI use is associated with an increased risk of postoperative AKI remains uncertain. Methods This retrospective cohort study used electronic medical records from the clinical data warehouse of Peking University First Hospital to screen all adult hospitalizations undergoing major surgery between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2020. Exposure was preoperative PPI use, defined as PPI use within 7 days before major surgery. The primary outcome was postoperative AKI, defined as AKI occurring within 7 days after major surgery; secondary outcomes included in-hospital AKI and in-hospital mortality. Results A total of 21,533 patients were included in the study (mean [SD] age, 57.8 [15.0] years; 51.2% male), of which 944 (4.4%) were prescribed PPI within 7 days before major surgery (PPI users). Overall, 72 PPI users (7.6%) and 356 non-users (1.7%) developed postoperative AKI. After adjustment, preoperative PPI use was associated with an increased risk of postoperative AKI (adjusted OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.04–2.07) and in-hospital AKI (adjusted OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.03–1.94). Moreover, subgroup analyses showed that the risk of PPI on postoperative AKI was amplified by the concomitant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or diuretics. No significant difference was observed between preoperative PPI use and in-hospital mortality in the fully adjusted model (adjusted OR 1.63; 95% CI, 0.55–4.85). Conclusions Preoperative PPI use was associated with an increased risk of AKI in patients undergoing major surgery. This risk may be enhanced by the concomitant use of other nephrotoxic drugs. Clinicians should weigh the pros and cons before initiating PPI prophylaxis.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support

IntroductionPatients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) support are at a high risk of hemorrhagic complications, including upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and impact of this complication in V-A ECMO patients.Materials and methodsA retrospective single-center study (2013–2017) was conducted on V-A ECMO patients, excluding those who died within 24 h. All patients with suspected UGIB underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and were analyzed and compared to the remainder of the cohort, from the initiation of ECMO until 5 days after explantation.ResultsA total of 150 V-A ECMO cases (65 after cardiac surgery and 85 due to medical etiology) were included. 90% of the patients received prophylactic proton pump inhibitor therapy and enteral nutrition. Thirty-one patients underwent EGD for suspected UGIB, with 16 confirmed cases of UGIB. The incidence was 10.7%, with a median occurrence at 10 [7–17] days. There were no significant differences in clinical or biological characteristics on the day of EGD. However, patients with UGIB had significant increases in packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma needs, mechanical ventilation duration and V-A ECMO duration, as well as in length of intensive care unit and hospital stays. There was no significant difference in mortality. The only independent risk factor of UGIB was a history of peptic ulcer (OR = 7.32; 95% CI [1.07–50.01], p = 0.042).ConclusionUGIB occurred in at least 1 out of 10 cases of V-A ECMO patients, with significant consequences on healthcare resources. Enteral nutrition and proton pump inhibitor prophylaxis did not appear to protect V-A ECMO patients. Further studies should assess their real benefits in these patients with high risk of hemorrhage.

Proton pump inhibitor prophylaxis after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: A national survey of surgeon practices.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are frequently used after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) to prevent marginal ulceration. The optimal duration of PPI treatment after surgery to minimize ulcer development is unclear. Assess bariatric surgeon practice variability regarding postoperative PPI prophylaxis. Survey of medical directors of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program-accredited centers. Members of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery research committee developed and administered a web-based anonymous survey in November 2021 to bariatric surgeons of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program-accredited programs detailing questions related to surgeons' use of PPI after RYGB including patient selection, medication, dosage, and treatment duration. The survey was completed by 112 surgeons (response rate: 52.6%). PPIs were prescribed by 85.4% of surgeons for all patients during their hospitalization, 3.9% for selective patients, and 10.7% not at all. After discharge, 90.3% prescribed PPIs. Pantoprazole was most often used during hospitalization (38.5%), while omeprazole was most prescribed (61.7%) after discharge. The duration of postoperative PPI administration varied; it was 3 months in 43.6%, 1 month in 20.2%, and 6 months in 18.6% of patients. Finally, surgeons' practice setting and case volume were not associated with the duration of prophylactic PPI administration after RYGB. PPI administration practices vary widely among surgeons after RYGB, which may be related to the limited comparative evidence and guidelines on best duration of PPI administration. Large prospective clinical trials with objective outcome measures are needed to define optimal practices for PPI prophylaxis after RYGB to maximize clinical benefit.

Perioperative Interventions to Prevent Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Marginal Ulcers After Bariatric Surgery - an International Experts' Survey.

This study aimed to survey international experts in metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) to improve and consolidate perioperative interventions to prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and marginal ulcers (MU) after MBS. Very important long-term complications after MBS include GERD, Barrett's esophagus, and MU. Prevention might be fundamental to reduce the incidence, severe complications, and the increasing number of revisional bariatric surgeries. An international scientific team designed an online confidential questionnaire with 45 multiple-choice questions. The survey was sent to 110 invited experts and 96 of them (from 41 different countries) participated from 21 July 2022 to 4 September 2022. Most experts (≥ 90%) prescribe postoperative acid suppression agents after MBS. Life-long proton pump inhibitors prophylaxis in smokers with avoidance of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended by most of the experts (66%, 73%) after any type of gastric bypass. Two-thirds of experts (69%) perform Helicobacter pylori eradication prior to MBS. Two-thirds of experts (68%) routinely perform EGD and biopsy before MBS. Follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and timing threshold for revisional and conversional MBS were variable among experts. This expert survey underlines important perioperative interventions that reached a two-thirds consensus among MBS international experts. Variability in follow-up EGD, approach to complication management, and thresholds for revisional and conversional MBS emphasize the need for further researches and consensus guidelines.

Association of Proton Pump Inhibitor Prophylaxis on Clinical Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke in China: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Overtreatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients continues to grow. We aimed to investigate the frequency of PPI prophylaxis without an appropriate indication in AIS patients in China and clarify the association between PPI prophylaxis and long-term prognosis. Based on a multicenter stroke registry database, neurological outcomes, stroke events, recurrent ischemic strokes, and all-cause death were compared between patients with and without PPI prophylaxis. A total of 4542 AIS were included, and 3335 (73.4%) received PPI prophylaxis. Patients with PPI prophylaxis were more likely to have a poor outcome at 1 year than those without PPI prophylaxis (33.3% vs. 25.8%, OR 1.321; 95% CI 1.102-1.584; p = 0.003). No significant differences were found in all-cause death, stroke event, or recurrent ischemic stroke at 1 year between the two groups. After propensity score matching, PPI prophylaxis was still independently associated with a higher rate of poor outcome (30.9% vs. 25.8%, OR 1.432; 95% CI 1.151-1.780; p = 0.001). Sensitivity analysis also showed that PPI prophylaxis increased the rate of a poor outcome in minor strokes or at different durations of PPI prophylaxis. Approximately 3/4 of AIS patients were given PPI prophylaxis during hospitalization, which was associated with a poor long-term outcome.

Risk factors of active upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with COVID-19 infection and the effectiveness of PPI prophylaxis

BackgroundGastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is one of the most impactful complications in patients hospitalized from COVID-19 infection. Limited study has focused on patients with upper GI bleeding (UGIB). This study aimed to identify the risk factors of patients who were hospitalized from COVID-19 infection and developed UGIB as well as the effectiveness of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prophylaxis in those patients.MethodsThis study was comprised of two phases. The first phase was the retrospective enrollment of patients who were admitted due to COVID-19 infection and developed UGIB between April and August 2021 to evaluate the associated factors of active UGIB. The second phase was a retrospective analysis after PPI prophylaxis protocol from September – October 2021 to assess the benefit of PPI use in those patients.ResultsOf 6,373 patients hospitalized, 43 patients (0.7%) had evidence of UGIB. The majority were male 28 (65.1%) with a mean age of 69.1 ± 11.8 years. Twenty-four of 43 patients (55.8%) needed mechanical ventilation, 35 patients (81.4%) received systemic corticosteroids, and 10 patients (23.3%) were taking anticoagulants for venous thromboembolic prophylaxis. Seven of 43 patients (16%) had active UGIB. There was no significant difference in the number of patients taking antiplatelets, anticoagulants, or steroids and the severity of COVID-19 infection between the two groups. An emergency endoscopy or endoscopic hemostasis were performed in 6/7 (85.7%) patients. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed two significant factors associated with active UGIB including higher of Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS) per point (OR = 7.89; 95%CI 1.03–72.87; p = 0.04) and an absence of PPI use (OR 4.29; 95%CI 1.04–19.51; p = 0.04). After prescribing PPI as a prophylaxis, there was a slightly lower incidence of UGIB (0.6% vs 0.7%) in addition to an absence of active UGIB (0% vs 16%).ConclusionOur study demonstrated that the absence of PPI and higher GBS were significant risk factors for active UGIB which required therapeutic endoscopy in patients with COVID-19 infection. We suggest that short-term PPI prophylaxis should be prescribed in those patients once they need hospitalization regardless of the severity of COVID-19 infection to minimize the severity of UGIB.

Association between hospital-acquired pneumonia and proton pump inhibitor prophylaxis in patients treated with glucocorticoids: a retrospective cohort study based on 307,622 admissions in China.

BackgroundProphylaxis with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in patients treated with glucocorticoid therapy is a common phenomenon in the general wards of Chinese hospitals. Many of these prescriptions are inappropriate and lead to overuse. Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a possible adverse effect for this combination but remains controversial.MethodsWe designed a retrospective cohort study using electronic medical record databases from multiple hospitals to investigate whether PPI prophylaxis increases the risk of HAP in hospitalized patients receiving glucocorticoid therapy. The study population was adult patients who were not critical and treated with at least 1 dose of glucocorticoid during hospitalization and the exposure factor was PPIs prophylaxis. The odds ratio of HAP between the exposed and unexposed groups was calculated based on the cohort which was established by propensity score matching. The dose-effect relationship between PPI prophylaxis and HAP was also evaluated.ResultsAmong the 307,622 admissions eligible for the study, a total of 217,460 (70.7%) admissions had a record of PPI prophylaxis. After reconstructed the cohort by propensity score matching, the exposed and unexposed groups both included 83,786 admissions. The incidence of HAP in the exposed group was higher than that in the unexposed group (2.1% vs. 1.5%, OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.3 to 1.5). The risk of HAP increased when the cumulative dose of PPI during hospital was more than 2 defined drug doses. Compared to the unexposed group, the adjusted odds ratio was 1.3 (95% CI: 1.2 to 1.4) in the medium-dose group (2–7 defined drug doses) and 1.9 (95% CI: 1.8 to 2.1) in the high-dose group (>7 defined drug doses).ConclusionsPPI prophylaxis increased the risk of HAP in hospitalized patients treated with glucocorticoid therapy and the risk of HAP increased as the dose of PPIs accumulated.

Should we routinely prescribe proton pump inhibitors peri-operatively in elderly patients with hip fractures? A review of the literature.

Elderly hip fracture patients are at risk of stress-related gastric mucosal damage, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the underrecognized but devastating complications.Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) offer effective prophylaxis against stress-related gastric mucosal damage.Systematic analysis of the literature revealed numerous articles on PPIs and hip fractures, but only three articles dedicated to the analysis of prophylactic use of PPIs in patients with a hip fracture.There is significant reduction in upper gastrointestinal bleeding following PPI prophylaxis and reduced 90-day mortality in elderly hip fracture patients on prophylaxis.PPIs are generally safe, cost-effective and based on available evidence. Their prophylactic use is justifiable in elderly patients with hip fractures.We suggest that PPIs be prescribed routinely peri-operatively in elderly hip fracture patients. Further level-one studies on the subject will allow for firmer recommendations. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:686-691. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200053

Potentially inappropriate prescribing of cardiovascular system and antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs among elderly patients: a Korean population-based national study.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) for cardiovascular system (CVS) and antiplatelet/anticoagulant (AP/AC) drugs among Korean elderly patients, using the Screening Tool of Older Persons’ Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria version 2 and to identify the risk factors related to PIP.METHODSThe 2016 National Aged Patient Sample data, comprising National Health Insurance claim records for a random sample of 20% of patients aged ≥ 65 years, were used to calculate PIP prevalence of outpatient prescriptions. For criteria including drug-disease interactions, PIP prevalence per indication was estimated.RESULTSAmong 1,274,148 elderly patients and 27,062,307 outpatient prescription claims, 100,085 patients (7.85%) and 341,664 claims (1.27%) had one or more PIP. The most frequent PIP was “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with concurrent antiplatelet agent (s) without proton-pump inhibitor prophylaxis” in the claim-level (0.97%) and patient-level (6.33%) analyses. “Beta-blocker with bradycardia” (16.47% of claims) and “angiotensin receptor blockers in patients with hyperkalaemia” (23.89% of claims) showed the highest PIP prevalence per indication. Logistic regression analysis revealed that, among the patient and health care provider characteristics, female, older age, more severe comorbidities, polypharmacy, higher level of healthcare organization, and specialty of prescriber were significantly associated with a higher risk of PIP.CONCLUSIONSOur findings of a high prevalence of PIP for CVS and AP/AC drugs among the elderly suggest that an effective strategy is urgently needed to improve the prescription practices of these drugs.

Proton pump inhibitor use among patients at risk of peptic ulcer bleeding: a nationwide register-based study

Background Proton pump inhibitors reduce the risk of peptic ulcer bleeding in patients at risk. The knowledge about the extent of gastroprotection in patients at increased risk and factors associated with prophylactic treatment is limited. Aims (1) to analyze the extent of gastroprotective undertreatment in patients using aspirin/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and (2) to analyze which patient characteristics are associated with proton pump inhibitor prophylaxis among those at increased ulcer bleeding risk. Methods A Danish nationwide register-based study. Based on a risk stratification model we identified citizens at increased ulcer bleeding risk and analyzed the proportion concomitantly treated with proton pump inhibitors. Further, we analyzed associations between use of ulcer prophylaxis and comorbidity and socioeconomic characteristics. Results Some 44.4% of the high-risk patients were concomitantly treated with proton pump inhibitors. In the crude analyses cohabiting, having a high educational level and a high income were significantly associated with lower odds of being treated with proton pump inhibitors. When adjusting for medication use, age, sex and comorbidity the associations were insignificant. Conclusions There is room for improvement in the extent of ulcer prophylaxis but no clear social gradient in under prescribing of gastroprotection. With the substantial risk-reducing possibility concomitant proton pump inhibitor use could save numerous patients from ulcer bleeding each year. Our study calls for increased awareness of peptic ulcer bleeding risk and dissemination of knowledge to clinicians about risk factors for gastrointestinal hemorrhage and the risk reducing potential of co-prescribing proton pump inhibitors to patients at risk.

3231 Gastric Outlet Obstruction in a Patient After Hip Surgery

INTRODUCTION: Until the 1970s, peptic ulcer disease was the most prevalent cause for gastric outlet obstructions (GOO) and accounted for 90 percent of all cases. However, with the introduction of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and the treatment of H. pylori infections, the etiology of GOO changed rapidly. Today, only around two percent of all peptic ulcers lead to GOO. Here we report the case of a woman with nausea, abdominal pain and coffee ground emesis, found to have a GOO, whose symptoms completely subsided under PPI treatment of a 12 mm large peptic ulcer (Forrest III) in the duodenal bulb. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 62-year-old female patient with a history of hypothyroidism, recent left hip fracture repair and subsequent pulmonary embolism, presented with nausea, hematemesis, melena, epigastric pain, decreased appetite and weight loss. She was treated with daily aspirin 325 mg and apixaban, and denied any drug abuse. PPI prophylaxis was not administered. Her physical examination was unremarkable. Initial blood tests included blood count, electrolytes and coagulation monitoring, and were unremarkable except for mild anemia (hemoglobin 9.9 g/dL). Contrast CTs of the abdomen and pelvis with PO/IV contrast showed marked gastric distension with luminal narrowing at the level of the duodenal bulb. Small and large bowel appeared normal in caliber and neither obstructions nor wall thickenings could be found. Accordingly, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed showing a non-bleeding, cratered ulcer with a clean ulcer base (Forrest III) in the duodenal bulb. The lesion was 12 mm in largest dimension and surrounded by edema and erythema, resulting in a complete luminal obstruction. Upon gastric decompression with a nasogastric tube and PPI treatment, the patient recovered quickly and was discharged after four days. DISCUSSION: Due to an increase in PPI administration and H. pylori eradication in the last decades, peptic ulcers are nowadays treated early on, and gastric outlet obstruction has become a rare complication of peptic ulcer disease. In this case, we report on a 62-year-old patient who developed an obstructive peptic ulcer following extensive hip surgery and anticoagulation with aspirin and apixaban. We hereby want to highlight the importance of a timely PPI prophylaxis for peptic ulcer disease in severely ill patients with chronic NSAID intake. Conservative measures can moreover suffice to resolve the issue.

Is there a role for proton pump inhibitor prophylaxis in haematology patients?

While proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are widely prescribed as prophylaxis in selected haematology inpatient and outpatients, an informal survey of haematology units around Australia found wide variations in the specific indications for their use. This is consistent with a literature review which showed a paucity of robust evidence to support their use, specifically in chemotherapy-induced mucositis, thrombocytopenia or administration of high dose glucocorticosteroids in the absence of additional risk factors. Rationalising PPI prescribing is clinically important from both a cost and safety perspective, given the emerging evidence of adverse events associated with prolonged PPI administration. A review of prescribing practices at our institution over a 14-month period found that approximately 60% of myeloma, lymphoma and autograft patients received PPI prophylaxis during and beyond chemotherapy without an accepted indication. We encourage institutions to review their PPI prescribing practices with the intent of rationalising their use, and to conduct studies aiming to fill the substantial gaps in our knowledge.

Risk Factors for Anastomotic Strictures after Esophageal Atresia Repair: Prophylactic Proton Pump Inhibitors Do Not Reduce the Incidence of Strictures.

Background Since 2005, infants with esophageal atresia (EA) in our unit are given prophylactic proton pump inhibitors (PPI) after repair until 1 year of age. The aims of this study were to identify risk factors for anastomotic strictures (AS) and to assess the efficacy of postoperative PPI prophylaxis in reducing the incidence of AS compared with symptomatic PPI. Methods Patients who underwent EA repair from 1994 to 2013 in our unit were included in this retrospective observational study approved by the local ethics review board. They were divided into two subgroups; symptomatic PPI-group with EA repair from 1994 to 2004 and prophylactic PPI-group with EA repair from 2005 to 2013. Data were collected from the patient records. Potential risk factors for AS analyzed were gender, long gap EA, birth weight, premature birth (<37 gestational weeks), anastomotic tension, and anastomotic leakage. Number of dilatations until the age of 1 and 5 years were recorded. To evaluate risk factors for AS and the effect of prophylactic PPI Logistic, Cox and Poisson regression models were used. For descriptive statistics Fisher exact test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used. Results A total of 128 patients were included. Patient characteristics, surgical method, grading of anastomotic tension, complications, and survival rates did not differ significantly between the symptomatic PPI-group (n = 71) and the prophylactic PPI-group (n = 57). Comparing the symptomatic and prophylactic PPI-group, there was no significant difference in the median age at the first AS (9.3 vs 6 mo), the number of dilatations until 1 year (2 vs 2) and 5 years (5 vs 4), or the incidence of anastomotic stricture (56.5% vs 50.9%). Long gap EA, high birth weight, and anastomotic tension were found to be independent risk factors. Conclusion Surgeons should aim to perform anastomosis under less tension at EA repair. Prophylactic PPI-treatment does not appear to reduce the rate of AS. Randomized controlled trials with larger study populations are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic PPI.

Prolonged Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors as Stricture Prophylaxis in Infants with Reconstructed Esophageal Atresia

Introduction Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are used as prophylaxis, guarding against anastomotic stricture (AS) in the aftermath of reconstructed esophageal atresia (EA). The incidence of stricture formation was studied in this setting, comparing outcomes of 3- and 12-month PPI prophylactic regimens. Patients and Methods Patient characteristics (gestational age, birth weight, prevalence of chromosomal aberrations, and other malformations), as well as rates of survival, AS formation, and required balloon dilation, were recorded in the following therapeutic subsets: (1) all infants undergoing primary surgical anastomosis for EA in years 2010-2014 and given postoperative PPI prophylaxis for 12 months and (2) all infants similarly treated for EA in years 2001-2009 but given postoperative PPI prophylaxis for 3 months only. Duration of follow-up was 1 year in each group. Results Patient characteristics and survival rates in 12-month (n = 33) and in 3-month (n = 30) treatment groups did not differ significantly. The prevalence of AS was 42%/43% in each group (12 months, 14/33; 3 months, 13/30; p = 1). Median number of dilations required was 3 (range, 1-9) per patient in each group (p = 0.69). Median age at initial dilation was 163 days and 63 days in 12- and 3-month groups, respectively (p = 0.04). Conclusion Development of AS in the first year after reconstruction of EA was not reduced by prolonged PPI prophylaxis (12 vs. 3 months), but initial balloon dilation procedures were performed later in infants who were treated longer.

Proton Pump Inhibitor Prophylaxis After Gastric Bypass Does Not Cause Hypomagnesemia.

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-induced hypomagnesemia is currently a major topic. Patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are generally prescribed PPI prophylaxis after surgery. We investigated the prevalence of hypomagnesemia in our bariatric population. We reviewed the files of 1000 postoperative patients for serum magnesium level during PPI use. We found only five cases of hypomagnesemia, none of which was evidently related to PPI use. We conclude that the risk of hypomagnesemia during 1 year of prophylactic PPI use after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is minimal and laboratory screening is probably not necessary.

Prevention of stress-related ulcer bleeding at the intensive care unit: Risks and benefits of stress ulcer prophylaxis.

Stress-related mucosal disease is a typical complication of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). It poses a risk of clinically relevant upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Therefore, stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) is recommended in high-risk patients, especially those mechanically ventilated > 48 h and those with a manifest coagulopathy. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and, less effectively, histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) prevent GI bleeding in critically ill patients in the ICU. However, the routine use of pharmacological SUP does not reduce overall mortality in ICU patients. Moreover, recent studies revealed that SUP in the ICU might be associated with potential harm such as an increased risk of infectious complications, especially nosocomial pneumonia and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. Additionally, special populations such as patients with liver cirrhosis may even have an increased mortality rate if treated with PPI. Likewise, PPI can be toxic for both the liver and the bone marrow, and some PPI show clinically relevant interactions with important other drugs like clopidogrel. Therefore, the agent of choice, the specific balance of risks and benefits for individual patients as well as the possible dose of PPI has to be chosen carefully. Alternatives to PPI prophylaxis include H2RA and/or sucralfate. Instead of routine SUP, further trials should investigate risk-adjusted algorithms, balancing benefits and threats of SUP medication in the ICU.

The influence of prophylactic proton pump inhibitor treatment on the development of symptomatic marginal ulceration in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients: a historic cohort study

BackgroundMarginal ulceration at the gastrojejunostomy is a serious complication after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (LRYGB) and occurs in 1%–16% of patients. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) might lower the occurrence of these ulcers. ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 6 months prophylactic usage of PPIs on the development of marginal ulceration and compare this with a historic patient control group. SettingA single institution cohort at a bariatric center of excellence, The Sint Lucas Andreas Zienkenhuis, Amsterdam MethodsA consecutive database of patients who underwent LRYGB from November 2007 to September 2012 in a single institution was retrospectively reviewed. From August 2011, patients received a standard dose of pantozol 40 mg once daily directly postoperatively for 6 months. No standard PPI prophylaxis was administered before August 2011, and the patients not using PPIs in this historic cohort served as the control group. ResultsA total of 610 patients underwent LRYGB, of which 128 patients (21.0%) underwent revisional surgery. Postoperative PPIs were administered in the intervention group of 337 patients, compared with the historic control group consisting of 273 patients. Six patients (1.2%) who received postoperative PPIs versus 20 patients (7.3 %) in the historic control group developed marginal ulceration (P = .001). Patients using proton pump inhibitors developed fewer gastrointestinal complaints postoperatively (P< .001). ConclusionsRoutine usage of PPIs reduced the occurrence of marginal ulceration after LRYGB.

Treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients receiving antiplatelet therapy.

Antiplatelet therapy is the standard of care for the secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome and ischemic stroke, especially after coronary intervention. However, this therapy is associated with bleeding complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, which is one of the most common life-threatening complications. Early endoscopy is recommended for most patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. After successful endoscopic hemostasis, immediate resumption of antiplatelet therapy with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) is recommended to prevent further ischemic events. PPI prophylaxis during antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The potential negative metabolic interaction between PPIs and clopidogrel is still unclear.

Effect of perioperative proton pump inhibitors on the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy: A prospective randomized controlled trial

Pharyngocutaneous fistula is a common complication of total laryngectomy. We hypothesized that perioperative proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment could reduce the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistulae. This prospective placebo-controlled double-blind randomized controlled trial compared PPI treatment (14 days enteral omeprazole) with a placebo in patients undergoing primary total laryngectomy. Forty patients were randomized into PPI (n = 21) and placebo arms (n = 19). One of 21 patients receiving omeprazole developed a fistula in comparison to 6 of 19 patients in the placebo group (p = .04). No other statistically significant risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula were identified. The mean hospital stay of patients with and without a fistula was 32 and 7.5 days, respectively. Pharyngocutaneous fistulae result in prolonged hospitalization and morbidity. We observed a statistically significant reduction in fistulae with PPI prophylaxis. Further research to better define the role of reflux and antacid management is suggested.

Multidisciplinary management strategies for acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

The modern management of acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding is centred on endoscopy, with recourse to interventional radiology and surgery in refractory cases. The appropriate use of intervention to optimize outcomes is reviewed. A literature search was undertaken of PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials between January 1990 and April 2013 using validated search terms (with restrictions) relevant to upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Appropriate and adequate resuscitation, and risk stratification using validated scores should be initiated at diagnosis. Coagulopathy should be corrected along with blood transfusions, aiming for an international normalized ratio of less than 2·5 to proceed with possible endoscopic haemostasis and a haemoglobin level of 70 g/l (excluding patients with severe bleeding or ischaemia). Prokinetics and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can be administered while awaiting endoscopy, although they do not affect rebleeding, surgery or mortality rates. Endoscopic haemostasis using thermal or mechanical therapies alone or in combination with injection should be used in all patients with high-risk stigmata (Forrest I-IIb) within 24 h of presentation (possibly within 12 h if there is severe bleeding), followed by a 72-h intravenous infusion of PPI that has been shown to decrease further rebleeding, surgery and mortality. A second attempt at endoscopic haemostasis is generally made in patients with rebleeding. Uncontrolled bleeding should be treated with targeted or empirical transcatheter arterial embolization. Surgical intervention is required in the event of failure of endoscopic and radiological measures. Secondary PPI prophylaxis when indicated and Helicobacter pylori eradication are necessary to decrease recurrent bleeding, keeping in mind the increased false-negative testing rates in the setting of acute bleeding. An evidence-based approach with multidisciplinary collaboration is required to optimize outcomes of patients presenting with acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.