Use of I.M. Ranitidine for the Prophylaxis of Aspiration Pneumonitis in Obstetrics

Twenty patients who underwent elective Caesarean section received ranitidine 150 mg by mouth 8–14 h, and 50 mg i.m. 90 min, before surgery. Intraoperative gastric aspiration resulted in contents with a pH > 2.5 and volume 2.5 in all patients and a mean gastric volume of 43.2 (38.3) ml. The group who received only sodium citrate 0.3 mol litre-1 had a mean pH of 5.3 (1.1) and a mean volume 122.7 (98.2) ml.