Treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer

An ulcer disease is the disease, causing the formation of ulcer defects of the gastric and duodenal mucosa. It has seasonal exacerbations.

The characteristic symptoms:

• heartburn;
• burping and acid vomiting;
• severe fatigue;
• sweatiness;
• weakness;
• fast heartbeat;
• hand quivering;

During the exacerbations, the sensation of pain is observed every day, very often on the empty stomach (likely in case of the duodenal ulcer). After taking a meal, the pain may relieve and disappear at all, showing itself again in 0.5-1 hour in case of gastric ulcer and 1.5-2.5 hour in case of the duodenal ulcer. Very often, the ill person suffers from acute pains at night. The constipation is the faithful partner of the duodenal ulcer.

The imbalance between the ability of protection elements of the gastric and duodenal mucosa and the aggressive stomach content is often the cause of the ulcer disease. The growth of concentration of the pepsin and hydrochloric acid is accompanied by the decrease of the motor activity, production of the mucus, decrease in production of alkali salts (bicarbonates), worsening of the blood circulation of the mucous membrane. The hypersecretion of gastric glands and the increase in acidicity of the gastric juice are often observed. In addition, the gastric ulcer, especially among the aged people, may pass on the background of hyposecretion.

Until recently, the high concentration of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice was considered to be the main factor, causing the development of the ulcer disease. Nevertheless, the latest studies prove its defining role in progression of such infection as Helicobacter pylori. According to the studies, the gastric ulcer develops among 85-90% of patients, infected by the helicobacter. The remaining small part of those, who suffer from the gastric ulcer, “developed” it as the result of the systematic and lengthy intake of painkilling and anti-inflammatory drugs and other artificially created causes.

Therefore, the excess of hydrochloric acid, directly contacting with the healthy mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract does not cause the development of the disease. The ulcer develops when the resistance to the acid of the gastric mucosa decreases under the influence of helicobacter.

The residence of helicobacter pylori is the pylorus, from where it can penetrate in lower and upper sections, reaching the mouth cavity very often. You may become infected in “traditional” ways, not practicing the hygiene rules.

The discovery of the connection of the Helicobacter pylori and gastric ulcer in 2005 brought the doctors Robin Warren and Barry Marshall the Nobel Prize, providing the gastroenterologists from the whole world with whole new opportunities for making the complex precise diagnosis and highly effective treatment of the ulcer disease.

The same methods, which are used for diagnosing the gastritis with addition of the fecal occult blood test, duodenal intubation and fibrogastroduodenoscopy are applied for diagnosing the said diseases.

The treatment of the acid environment of the stomach by antibiotics appeared to be ineffective. The suppression of secretion of the hydrochloric acid and neutralization of infection by modern methods becomes a priority in light of existing knowledge. 

The early prevention, correctly established diagnosis and selected treatment scheme in Oxford Medical Clinic will allow fully treating the gastric ulcer for surprisingly short time, preventing such serious consequences as the ulcer perforation and probable bleeding. Meanwhile, in contrast to the traditional treatment schemes, the therapeutic methods of treatment of the gastric and duodenal ulcers, chronic hepatitis, pancreatitis, which repeatedly proved its effectiveness and were proposed by our specialists, bring the risk of appearance of side effects virtually to naught.