Stress ulcer prophylaxis in critically ill patients: review of the evidence.

Critically ill patients are at risk of developing stress ulcers in the upper digestive tract. Multiple risk factors have been associated with the development of this condition, with variable risk of association. Decades of research have suggested the benefit of using pharmacologic prophylaxis to reduce the incidence of clinically important upper gastrointestinal bleeding, with no reduction in overall mortality. It has been the standard of care to provide prophylaxis to patients at risk. Options for prophylaxis include: proton‑pump inhibitors, histamine(2)‑receptor antagonists, or sucralfate. The choice of prophylaxis depends on multiple factors including the presence of risk factors, risk for nosocomial pneumonia, and possibly cost.