"Definition:
Gastric ulcers due to physiologic stress.
Cause: ischaemia from splanchnic hypoperfusion in critically ill patients.
Pathology:
- multiple ulcers
- located upper stomach
- usually superficial
- deep (Curlings ulcer) in burns patients
Prophylaxis only for high risk patients:
Bleeding is rare under �physiologic stress�.
High risk group are surgical critically ill patients who :
a) have been on mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours.
b) have coagulopathy.
Stress ulcer = higher mortality (4 fold) "