Ulcer Causes

Ulcer causes

      The bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that causes approximately 60% to 80% of stomach ulcers and 80% to 85% of duodenal ulcers. This bacteria invade the mucus layer that normally protects the stomach and small intestine from digestive acids, and disrupt this protective mechanism in some people. Note that in industrialized countries, 20% of people 40 and older have this bacteria in their digestive tract. This percentage reaches 50% among those over 60 years. About 20% of carriers of the bacteria will have ulcer during their lifetime.

Some other ulcer causes:

• Taking drugs that damage the lining of the digestive tract, such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs. Several drugs to treat arthritis fall into this category.
• Excessive production of acid by the stomach (gastric hyperacidity), attributable to smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, significant stress, with a hereditary predisposition, etc.. In fact, we believe that tobacco, alcohol and emotional stress are predisposing and aggravating factors rather than causes of ulcers.
• A severe burn, significant injury or physical stress related to serious illness.
• More rarely, a stomach ulcer can prove to be a stomach cancer which was ulcerated.

      Treatment includes:

• Stopping gastrotoxic drugs (NSAIDs, aspirin);
• Smoking cessation;
• An antisecretory 6 weeks during treatment and eradication of H. pylori when it is present. An endoscopy and histology will be performed automatically at the end of treatment. A check on the eradication of H pylori is desirable 4 weeks after cessation of antisecretory treatment.

Stomach ulcer and treatment with anti-inflammatory

      There is no need to prescribe an antisecretory treatment if gastric ulcer appeared because of NSAIDs or aspirin if they can be arrested. Otherwise, prevention PPI or misoprostol 400 mcg / day is necessary.

What is the surgical treatment of stomach ulcer?

      It is, in most cases a gastrectomy. Exceptionally, the location (sub-cardia) or emergency conditions (bleeding, perforation ...) or field lead to a more limited action. Indications for surgery for gastric ulcer have become rare outside complications.

How to restore the digestive circuit after removal of the stomach?

      After partial gastrectomy, the restoration of continuity can be done in two ways:

• Gastroduodenal anastomosis which maintains the duodenal loop;
• Gastrojejunal anastomosis across the gastric band.