3.3. Use of gastric antacids
The majority of patients were taking antacids (H2 receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors). Especially in intensive care, nephrology and surgery the use of these drugs was high, respectively 84.1% (n = 89), 80% (n = 12) and 78.8% (n = 26). Without the use of antacids the average pH was found to be 3.5 (SD: 1.8), with use of antacids the average was 4.6 (SD: 1.7) (p < 0.05). Analysis showed that if an aspirate could be obtained (in 270 out of 331 intubations), 77% (n = 208) of all pH results were ≤ 5.5. In pH measurements without antacids 85.4% (n = 76) was ≤ 5.5 as opposed to 72.9% (n = 132) with antacids (P = 0.062). When pH was ≥ 6 there were 22% more false negative results (tube located in the stomach) in the group on antacids. The pH results with or without antacids are illustrated in Fig. 3.