Background: Since advent of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) use of H2 receptor blockers (Ranitidine) is on decline. There is no doubt that PPIs are superior gastric acid suppressors and should be first line of therapy for peptic ulcer disease. Surgeons routinely use gastric acid suppressors for prevention of stress ulcers in peri-operative period. PPIs are more expensive, especially in injectable form. Methodology: We studied incidence of complications in the form of 1. Haemetemesis or bloody aspiration from Ryle’s tube 2. Newly developing epigastric tenderness retrospectively in 1000 patients underwent, laparotomy under general anaesthesia over the period of October 2011 to June 2018 in our surgical department. Patients were classified according to whether they were given PPI or H2-receptor blocking agents in peri-operative period. Patients with portal hypertension and gastric surgeries were excluded from the study. Results: there was no statistical significant difference between use of either agent for prophylaxis of stress gastritis. Conclusions: H2- receptor blockers should be used in peri-oprative period instead of PPIs to reduce the cost of surgery as it does not increase risk of stress ulcers.

Keywords: Inj. Ranitidine, Inj. omeprazole, stressulcers, gastritis, haemetemesis