A comparison of omeprazole and ranitidine for prophylaxis against aspiration pneumonitis in emergency Caesarean section

Summary One hundred and sixty‐two Chinese women undergoing emergency Caesarean section were allocated at random on admission to the labour ward to receive one of three regimens for orally administered chemoprophylaxis against acid aspiration: ranitidine 150 mg 6 hourly with sodium citrate at induction of anaesthesia, omeprazole 40 mg 12 hourly with sodium citrate, or omeprazole 40 mg 12 hourly alone. Intragastric pH and volume were measured immediately after induction of anaesthesia. Ten patients (17%) in the omeprazole‐only group, three (6%) in the omeprazole and citrate group and one (2%) in the ranitidine group had an intragastric pH < 2.5 and volume > 25 ml (p < 0.05). The use of sodium citrate resulted in higher intragastric pH but larger intragastric volumes (p < 0.05). The sodium citrate and ranitidine regimen was the most cost‐effective among the three.