Control and variability of gastric pH in critically ill children

Abstract

a) Continuous infusion of ranitidine decreases variability of gastric pH in pediatric ICU patients; b) gastric pH variability may make intermittent monitoring of gastric pH inaccurate; c) children with acute central nervous system injury or PRISM scores of > or = 20 have poor control of gastric pH; d) type of injury and PRISM scores predict response to ranitidine therapy.