[Stress ulcer prophylaxis in intensive care units: an observational multicenter study].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gastrointestinal bleeding due to stress ulcer (GB) complicates critical disease, and must be received prophylaxis based on defined criteria. To evaluate the GB prophylaxis in Intensive Care Units (ICU), and to compare with the guidelines. METHODS We carried out a cross-sectional multicenter study in 21 medical-surgical ICU in Brazil to investigate this issue. For data analysis, these were distributed in 3 sub-groups (high, moderate and low risk for GB). RESULTS 235 patients were evaluated, with mean age of 57.7 ± 19.5 years and days on ICU 13 ± 19.7. The more common admission ICU diagnoses were sepsis (26%) and postoperative (16.2%) patients. Seventy-three (73%) of the patients were GB high risk, 21.5% moderate and 5.5% low risk. Of the 187 high risk patients, 139 were receiving GB prophylaxis (60% with histamine blockers (HB2) and 39% with proton pump inhibitors (PPI). Of these patients, 25.7% did not receive GU prophylaxis, although indicated it. Of the 55 moderate risk patients, 70.9% wer e receiving GU prophylaxis (22 with HB2 and 17 with PPI). Of the 14 low risk patients, 71% were using GU prophylaxis (6 with HB2 and 4 with PPI). CONCLUSIONS Almost 80% of the patients made use of GB prophylactic drugs, with no agreement GU risk stratification. This study demonstrated the no adequate GU prophylaxis in the Brazilian ICU.