Perforated ulcer: symptoms and treatment

Any disease that is not treated or does not comply with all the doctor's recommendations can lead to serious complications. Currently, a large percentage of the population suffers from diseases of the digestive tract, among them gastritis and ulcers occupy one of the first places. One of the complications of these pathologies is the perforated ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, the symptoms and treatment of these pathologies will be examined further.

What is a perforation?

This pathology is a consequence of the complication of peptic ulcer disease, which can occur for various reasons, but all of them can lead to the formation of a through hole in the hollow organ. It can be either the stomach or any part of the intestine.

As a result of the formation of perforation, all the contents of the stomach or intestine, together with the contents and enzymes, enter the abdominal cavity and begin to erode it. Infectious agents do not remain indifferent, and in response to such an event, an inflammatory process develops, called peritonitis.

This is a serious situation that requires prompt medical attention. Most often, such a complication occurs in a strong half of humanity, with a peak occurrence in the spring and autumn.

Causes of perforation in the stomach

There are several reasons that can lead to a perforating ulcer, among them the main place is occupied by:

• Frequent inflammatory processes in the stomach.
• Physical stress, which lead to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure.
• Large amounts of food.
• Negligent attitude to diet compliance.
• Stressful situations.
• Use of aspirin or glucocorticoid therapy.

The presence of inflammation in the mucosa can lead to a perforated ulcer, the symptoms of it can visit the patient. It is necessary to regularly undergo a survey and follow the doctor's recommendations.

Causes of duodenal ulcer

Most often, the cause of the ulcer of this organ lies in problems with the stomach. If you do not take any measures to eliminate the inflammatory process in it, then it will necessarily spread to the duodenum.

The reasons may also be:

• Alcoholism.
• Diseases of the gallbladder, chronic appendicitis.
• Infection caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori.

It must be borne in mind that the perforated ulcer of the duodenal ulcer happens much more often than the stomach.

Symptoms of perforating ulcers

When the patient exacerbates the disease, it is always manifested by pain, vomiting, all of this often occurs after eating. At the time of perforation, the perforated ulcer has symptoms in the form of a sharp "dagger" pain, which can not be tolerated. The patient tries to pull the legs to the chest to reduce it.

At this point, there is also an increase in signs of intoxication of the body as a result of getting everything that is in the stomach into the abdominal cavity. The skin becomes pale, cold sweat appears , blood pressure decreases and the heart starts beating more often.

In the development of this pathology, several stages are distinguished:

1. The shock stage. It is precisely characterized by intolerable acute pains, which can give to the right side of the back. Because of this, it is difficult to breathe, muscles become very hard and tense.
2. Imaginary improvement. At this time, and this is about several hours after the onset of all pain, the condition improves slightly, the perforating ulcer reduces its symptoms. There is weakness, pressure remains low, muscles relax a little, and it becomes easier to breathe. Body temperature usually rises during this period, meteorism occurs, patients familiar with this condition should no longer confuse it with poisoning or influenza. Without first aid during this period, you can not do.
3. After 12 hours, the symptoms of peritonitis already appear: dryness in the oral cavity, abdominal pain. It should be noted that the signs of peritonitis are always the same regardless of the cause that triggered it. To suspect that this happened against the background of perforation of the ulcer of the stomach or intestine is possible only on the basis of the available diagnosis.

Peritonitis can be caused by appendicitis, pancreatitis, but in any case, if suspected of such pathology, urgent hospitalization is necessary. Dangerous is the situation when the developing ulcer practically did not give signs. Symptoms of the resulting perforation the patient may leave without attention, but simply try to remove the pain of home improvised drugs and pain medication, and this is dangerous for life.

Symptoms of a gut ulcer

If perforation of the duodenum is observed, the signs may be as follows:

• Acute pain in the region of the left hypochondrium, which can give to the neck and collarbone.
• Vomiting, most often it happens only once.
• There is a "disc-like stomach".
• There is a cold sweat and a blue hue of the mucous membranes.

Just as with the perforation of the stomach, the perforated ulcer of the duodenum, the symptoms of which we are considering, leads to the fact that in the second stage of development, immediately signs of ingestion of the intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity begin to appear. Tachycardia, elevated body temperature, severe pain are vivid witnesses to the development of peritonitis. In this state urgent help is needed for the surgeons.

Diagnosis of perforation

Since the perforated ulcer of the stomach and duodenum symptoms is pronounced in the first stage, and patients tend to enter the hospital for a second, the diagnosis is based on the history of the disease. In addition, additional studies are necessarily conducted:

• Radiography, which will show the presence of free gas, if there is a perforation.
• Ultrasound reveals the onset of inflammation in the abdominal cavity and the presence of fluid.
• Sometimes the use of FGDS to identify the exact location of pathology, but there is a risk of gas entering the abdominal cavity, so you need to be extra careful.
• If the case is severe, and the perforated duodenal ulcer symptoms are blurred, then laparoscopy is done.
• The blood test will also show increased levels of ESR, a high level of stab-sized leukocytes and a decrease in hemoglobin.

Only after confirmation of the assumptions about the presence of perforation will be made surgical intervention.

First aid with a perforated ulcer

The formation of perforation in the stomach or intestine is very dangerous for human life, which is why when you first suspect such a condition, you need to call an ambulance. In the process of transportation, patients in serious condition are administered drugs to maintain blood pressure, make inhalation with oxygen, and give painkillers.

Use in this period of narcotic analgesics is inappropriate, as they violate the patient's consciousness and lubricate the clinical manifestations, which causes difficulties for the correct diagnosis.

Treatment of perforated ulcers

The perforated ulcer of the intestine has almost the same symptoms as the perforation of the stomach, they are also united by the fact that only surgeons can cope with this condition. Operative intervention must be carried out as early as possible, because at a later stage this may be meaningless.

If the situation so requires, then all manipulations are carried out in the intensive care unit. Before the operation, insert a probe and a catheter into the bladder, and the surgical intervention itself is performed under general anesthesia.

The surgeon makes a cut and examines the cavity of the stomach or intestine, detects perforation, and then decides how to eliminate it. There are several options for this:

1. You can sew a hole.
2. In some cases, part of the stomach is removed along with perforation.
3. Excision of the ulcer and vagotomy.

Most often, from their experience, surgeons know that suturing is not a 100% guarantee of complete cure, often there are relapses. Therefore, this method of fighting perforation is resorted to in situations with severe peritonitis or in the presence of pathology in young people whose stress is the cause of this condition.

In most other cases, excision of the ulcer or resection of the stomach is more effective .

As before the excision or suturing, and after the operation, a full sanation of the cavity is carried out and several drainages are established.

We examined the topic: "Perforated ulcer symptoms and treatment." First aid in this situation is very important, but most often its meaning lies in the speedy hospitalization of the patient.

Complications after surgery and a prognosis for the future

Among all the complications of the postoperative process are the following:

• Development of an abscess in the abdominal cavity.
• Pneumonia.
• If the stitches are made poorly, then it is fraught with repeated perforation and the formation of peritonitis and sepsis.
• It is very rare that there is a disruption of the food movement through the esophagus into the stomach due to narrowing of the entrance sphincter.

If a perforated ulcer is found in time, the symptoms are eliminated and all necessary measures are taken to eliminate the pathology, then the prognosis is usually favorable. With all the recommendations of the doctor and diet, you can lead a normal lifestyle.

Folk treatment of ulcers

If the disease has gone too far, and a perforation has formed, then folk methods will no longer have any effect. But after the surgery, along with a standard course of treatment, it is possible to apply the recommendations of traditional healers.

Here are a few recipes that will help reduce the acidity of gastric juice to prevent the development of a relapse:

1. Mix the juice from two lemons with 0.5 liters of honey and with the same volume of olive oil. Ready medicine to use 1 tbsp. L. Before meals 3 times a day for a month.
2. 250 grams of aloe leaves grind in a meat grinder, add 250 grams of honey and heat the mixture to 50 degrees, then add half a liter of red wine. All this insist in a dark place for 7 days, and then you can take a tablespoon 3 times a day for an hour before eating. The duration of such treatment is 3 weeks.

It should be remembered that folk medicine can be effective at the initial stages of ulceration, and when there is a perforation there is no sense in it.

How to prevent recurrence of perforation

In order to prevent the repetition of the appearance of a perforated ulcer, it is necessary to regularly carry out anti-relapse therapy, which includes:

1. Compliance with diet. As prevention, patients are encouraged to follow diet No. 1, especially during periods of possible exacerbation of the disease.
2. Reception of necessary medicines. The attending physician will certainly give recommendations on this matter.
3. Physiotherapy. They give remarkable results in combination with proper nutrition and medication intake.
4. Periodic sanatorium treatment.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can bring a lot of trouble to its owner. If you do not adhere to strict restrictions in eating, abuse harmful habits, be subjected to frequent stresses, then you can not be surprised that the ulcer again declares itself with its unpleasant symptoms. Take care of yourself and your health, you can not buy it for any money.