An Important Overview of Ulcer Surgery
As with any type of surgery, ulcer surgery needs to be carefully considered and only used if absolutely needed. Typically, a person with ulcers can take over-the-counter, as well as prescription medication as a way of keeping ulcers from becoming worse. In addition, someone at risk for developing an ulcer could also consider medication as a preventative measure. Because formulas used today are so effective, it is unusual for ulcer surgery to be required.
Along with anti-inflammatory medication, antibiotics are used in many cases to treat people with ulcers. Generally, these two types of drugs combined actually help ulcers heal. Therefore, as long as the person takes appropriate medication, eats the right diet, and lives a healthy lifestyle, an ulcer would begin to heal and once healed it would likely remain under control.
On the other end of the spectrum, when ulcers are serious, they can actually become perforated. In addition, when this problem is serious, bleeding could occur, which is known as a bleeding ulcer or an obstruction may develop. Obviously, all three of these risks need to be addressed immediately, usually in the form of surgery. For this, the surgeon would determine the best type of surgery with the least amount of invasion. The three most common options include an antrectomy, vagotomy, and pyloroplasty.
For the first type of ulcer surgery, the antrectomy, the lower part of the stomach, which is known as the antrum, would be surgically removed. Because this particular part of the stomach is what produces a stimulating hormone to the stomach specific to the secretion of digestive juices, removal would be the only way to get the ulcer under control. Depending on what the surgeon finds, it may also be necessary for the adjacent part of the stomach that secretes acid and pepsin to be removed. For this, both an antrectomy and vagotomy would be done together.
The second popular type of ulcer surgery is the vagotomy. For this, a nerve known as the vagus nerve would be removed. This nerve is responsible for sending messages to the stomach from the brain so if the signals can be interrupted by removing the nerve, secretion of acid would be reduced. However, this surgery does pose some risks. For instance, some people experience severe and on-going stomach pain, vomiting, and chronic diarrhea.
Another risk of this ulcer surgery is that in some cases, the ability for the stomach to empty is altered. The good news is that the vagotomy has been modified and today, it is safer and more effective. As an example, most surgeons now cut only certain portions of the nerve, those responsible for controlling the cells of the stomach that secrete acid. Because of this, issues with stomach emptying are avoided.
The last ulcer surgery we wanted to mention is called the pyloroplasty. For this, the opening going to the duodenum, as well as the small intestine known as the pylorus, would be enlarged. The result would be the contents of the stomach being able to move easier within the stomach itself. Just as a vagotomy can be used with an antrectomy, it can also be used with pyloroplasty surgery.