A comparison between effects of Rabeprazole and Ranitidine on epigastric pain in patients undergoing vitrectomy

Aims and This study aimed to compare Rabeprazole with ranitidine on decreasing epigastric pain in patients undergoing vitrectomy surgery in Rasoul-e-Akram hospital during 1391-1392. This study was a double-blinded randomized controlled trial on patients undergoing vitrectomy. Patients were divided into three groups receiving: Rabeprazole (20 mg), Ranitidine (150 mg) and both (20 mg Rabeprazole plus 150 mg ranitidine). After surgery patients were asked about epigastric pain, heartburn, regurgitation, nausea and vomiting. Patients were compared based on these variables. In this study 105 patients with average age of 67.55 years (SD=9.87) were included and divided into three groups, each containing 35 patients. In Rabeprazole group, 8(22.9%), 7(20%), and 4(11.4%) patients had regurgitation at 1, 2 and 4 hours after surgery, respectively. In Ranitidine group this amount was 5(14.3%), 3(8.6%) and 2(5.7%). In the third group this changed to 3(8.6%), 2(5.7%) and 3(8.6%), respectively which was not significantly different among the three groups (P value> 0.05). Pain severity after surgery at different hours, was decreased significantly in all groups (P value<0.001) but this was not significantly different among them (P Value= 0.15). This study shows that using Ranitidine and Rabeprazole simultaneously or Ranitidine alone decreases pain and regurgitation after elective surgery more than using Rabeprazole alone. Using both of these is effective in decreasing pain after surgery.