Stress gastritis

Stress gastritis

This is a common sequel of serious illness or injury and is characterised by a reduction in the blood supply to the gastric mucosa. Although common, this is not usually recognised unless stress ulceration and bleeding supervene, in which case treatment can be di ffi cult. Prevention is much easier than treating it, hence routine use of H antagonists with or 2 without barrier agents, such as sucralfate, in patients who are on intensive care. These measures have been shown to reduce the incidence of bleeding from stress ulceration.