PROPHYLACTIC USE OF ANTACIDS AFTER UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY WITH GASTRIC BIOPSY

Abstract

This article aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic antacids in relieving symptoms, especially epigastric pain, after gastric biopsy performed during upper digestive endoscopy. This is an observational, retrospective, and descriptive study based on the analysis of 140 medical records of patients treated at a Medical Center in Western Paraná, Brazil, between August and September 2025. Among the patients evaluated, 85 (60.7%) received prophylactic antacids, while 55 (39.3%) did not receive any medication. In the medicated group, 21.2% reported symptoms such as pain or discomfort, whereas in the non-medicated group this rate was only 12.7%. It was observed that the absence of symptoms was more frequent among patients who did not use antacids (87.3%) compared to those who did (78.8%). The results indicate that prophylactic use of antacids was not decisive in reducing post-biopsy symptoms. It is concluded that therapeutic decisions should be individualized, prioritizing patients with a higher predisposition to gastrointestinal symptoms and avoiding indiscriminate use of these medications.