The clinical problem of stress ulcers.

True stress ulcers are primarily superficial gastric fundic lesions that occur in the clinical setting of severe shock, trauma, burns, and sepsis, especially peritonitis. They are to be clearly differentiated from Cushing's ulcers, exacerbation of pre-existent chronic ulcers, and drug-induced gastritis, all of which have completely different pathogenetic mechanisms. The etiology of true stress ulcers is most importantly related to ischemia and tissue acidosis, although luminal acid and pepsin are requisite for ulceration to occur. The sole clinical manifestation of stress ulcers is hemorrhage. Prophylaxis with antacids alone, or with a combination of antacids and H2 receptor antagonists is highly efficacious if luminal pH is carefully monitored. The treatment of exsanguinating hemorrhage, once established, carries with it an extremely high morbidity and mortality.