Effect of sucralfate on gastric intramucosal pH in critically ill patients

Abstract: Objective: To determine whether sucralfate administration affects the tonometric measurement of gastric intramucosal pH (pHi). Design: Non-randomized observational study. Setting: General intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. Patients: Twenty critically ill, mechanically ventilated, consecutively admitted patients requiring an arterial catheter and nasogastric tube. Interventions: Tonometer placement and sucralfate administration. Measurements and main results: We simultaneously determined tonometer saline PCO₂ (PCO₂i), arterial blood gases, pH of gastric juice and pHi. These parameters were evaluated immediately before sucralfate administration, and 2 h and 4 h after. We did not detect any change in either PCO₂i or pHi after sucralfate administration (PCO₂i: basal 6.4 ± 1.7, 2 h 6.3 ± 1.7, 4 h 6.3 ± 1.7; pHi: basal 7.35 ± 0.13, 2 h 7.36 ± 0.12, 4 h 7.36 ± 0.12). Conclusions: Sucralfate does not affect the tonometric measurement of PCO₂i and pHi.