Gastric Ulcer

Gastric ulcer

      The gastric ulcer is preferentially localized at the lesser gastric curvature. It is promoted by the loss of cytoprotection.

Ulcerative syndrome symptoms

• Heaviness, nausea, bloating.
• Nocturnal cramps in the upper abdomen.
• Hemorrhage, perforation. Medical treatment aims to relieve the patient, accelerates the spontaneous healing and prevents recurrences and complications.
• In the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, use gastric antisecretory which are the main antagonists of histamine H2 inhibitors and proton pump.
• In cases of ulcer with infection by Helicobacter pylori, treatment is based on the eradication of the germ: antibiotic associated with an antisecretory for 7 days.

      The difference between the two diseases is that the gastric ulcer, has the disadvantage that it can be confused with cancer of the stomach or to evolve into cancer even if the risk is low (less than 1% probably ). That's why we practice systematic multiple biopsies at the periphery of a stomach ulcer, when it discovers through endoscopy (exploration of the inner lining (mucosa) of the stomach and duodenum using an endoscope (fiber optic) inserted through the mouth. Two to four times more common duodenal ulcer is however still benign and its diagnosis does not much care.

When ulcer hurts

      For all digestive ulcers manifested primarily by the onset of pain in the hours following the meal: heartburn, heaviness or cramping, these feelings appear in the upper and middle abdomen. They may be relieved by eating food, especially if it is a duodenal ulcer. Sometimes patients complain of a painful sensation of hunger or even pain to be felt in the back. Much more rarely, fortunately, the presence of an ulcer will be recognized before complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding (red vomiting, black stools) or intestinal perforation (severe pain and signs of shock).