The human body is susceptible to various diseases. Ailments can affect any internal organ. The duodenum is no exception. The most famous ailment of this section of the digestive system is peptic ulcer. In many people, it is associated with the stomach, but in fact it is associated not only with it. The duodenum is often involved in the pathological process. What is this ailment? What other diseases can affect the duodenum? Before looking for answers to these questions, it is worth considering the structure of the named department of the digestive system.
The structure of the duodenum
The human digestive system is complex. One of its components is the duodenum 12. It is considered the initial section in the small intestine. The duodenum originates from the pylorus of the stomach and ends with the duodenum-jejunum bend, which passes into the next section of the small intestine (into the jejunum).
In the duodenum, several components are distinguished:
- the upper part, the length of which is from 5 to 6 cm;
- the descending part, which is 7-12 cm long;
- the horizontal part, which is 6-8 cm in length;
- ascending part, equal in length to 4-5 cm.
Duodenal function
The 12 duodenum performs several important functions:
- It begins the process of intestinal digestion. The food coming from the stomach is brought here to an alkaline pH, which does not irritate other parts of the intestine.
- The duodenum regulates the production of bile and pancreatic enzymes, depending on the chemical composition and acidity of food from the stomach.
- The initial section of the small intestine also performs an evacuation function. From it, the food slurry coming from the stomach goes to other parts of the intestine.
Some diseases that may be associated with the duodenum 12
One of the diseases that occur in the duodenum is duodenitis. This term refers to inflammatory-dystrophic changes in the mucous membrane. They arise due to exposure to the body of harmful factors: foodborne toxic infections, toxic substances that cause poisoning when ingested in the digestive system, spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, foreign bodies. With duodenitis, pain is felt in the epigastric region, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and body temperature rises.
Diseases of the duodenum also include chronic duodenal obstruction. This is a process that leads to a violation of the passage through the duodenum, i.e., motor and evacuation activity in this part of the digestive system is disrupted. The disease occurs for many different reasons (for example, the presence of tumors, congenital anomalies, etc.). Symptoms depend on the causes of chronic duodenal obstruction, the stage of the disease and how long the duodenum has been affected. Symptoms of sick people note such discomfort and heaviness in the epigastric region, heartburn, loss of appetite, constipation, gurgling and transfusion in the intestines.
Treatment of duodenitis and chronic duodenal obstruction
Treatment of diseases should be prescribed by a doctor. In order for duodenum to restore its functions during duodenitis, the following measures may be required:
- hunger for 1 or 2 days;
- gastric lavage;
- purpose of a special diet (No. 1, 1a, 1b);
- the appointment of astringents, enveloping, antacid, antispasmodic, anticholinergic, ganglion blocking agents, vitamins;
- in some cases, surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy are required.
In chronic duodenal obstruction, treatment of the duodenum 12 requires an individual approach. If the disease provoked a mechanical obstacle, then surgery is performed. In other cases, prokinetics may be prescribed. These drugs have a stimulating effect on the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, increase contractile activity, tone the stomach and duodenum, make evacuation of the gastric contents faster.
What is meant by peptic ulcer?
When considering ailments of the duodenum, special attention should be paid to peptic ulcer. This term refers to a serious disease that occurs in a chronic form with alternating periods of remission and exacerbation. The etiology of this ailment is not well understood. It used to be that ulcers are provoked by substances such as pepsin and hydrochloric acid, which are produced in the digestive system. However, studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori microorganisms play an important role.
Statistics show that the prevalence of duodenal ulcer is from 6 to 15%. This is not to say that a representative of a gender is sick less often or more often. Men and women are equally susceptible to this ailment.
Features of duodenal ulcers
Ulcers are damage to the duodenum. They can be compared with erosion. However, these two types of damage have significant differences. Erosion affects only the mucous membrane that lines the duodenum. An ulcer penetrates into the submucosal and muscle layers.
Studies show that ulcers in most cases are in the upper part. They are localized near the pylorus of the stomach. The diameter of the damage is different. Most often, ulcers are found in which this parameter does not exceed 1 cm. In some cases, large ulcers are found. Doctors in their practice encountered damage to the duodenum, which reached a diameter of 3–6 cm.
Clinical manifestations of peptic ulcer
In some people, the disease proceeds imperceptibly, while in others, peptic ulcer of the duodenum appears with suspicious signs. Symptoms are most often observed as follows:
- recurrent pain localized in the upper abdomen;
- digestive disorders;
- deterioration in a sick person's appetite and weight loss;
- tarry stool;
- bleeding due to corroding of the walls of the blood vessel by the gastric juice;
- pain in the back (they arise due to the growth of an ulcer in the pancreas);
- intense abdominal pain (they are observed with perforation of the ulcer, the development of peritonitis).
Of the listed symptoms, the most common is pain. By its nature, it is different - sharp, burning, aching, indefinite, dull. Pain usually occurs on an empty stomach (in the morning after waking up). They can also appear after eating after about 1.5-3 hours. Unpleasant sensations are stopped by antacid preparations, food and even a glass of milk or warm water. The fact is that foods and drinks, when ingested, partially neutralize the effects of hydrochloric acid. However, after a short period of time, the pain resumes again.
Diagnostic procedures for peptic ulcer
The diagnosis of “duodenal ulcer” cannot be made according to only one symptom and external examination of a sick person, because the above symptoms are characteristic of a wide range of diseases. These symptoms can hide not only a duodenal ulcer, but also gallstone disease, stomach cancer, pancreatitis, benign tumors, etc.
A suitable and reliable method for the diagnosis of peptic ulcer is fibrogastroduodenoscopy. During this study, a special instrument with a light source and a camera is introduced through the mouth into the stomach to examine the mucous membrane of the digestive system. The image is formed on the monitor. The doctor evaluates the stomach and duodenum. Diseases are diagnosed by apparent pathological changes. If necessary, the specialist takes a sample of the mucous membrane for examination for the presence of microorganisms that provoke the occurrence of peptic ulcer.
Medication for duodenal ulcer
Peptic ulcer can be treated medically or surgically. In the first method, doctors prescribe drugs to patients who neutralize hydrochloric acid. They are called antacids. Medicines that help suppress the production of hydrochloric acid in the human body also help with illness. For example, omeprazole may be prescribed.
If during the diagnosis microorganisms Helicobacter pylori are detected, then it is possible to prescribe three-component therapy. Omeprazole or Ranitidine is prescribed in combination with antibiotics (Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin).
Surgery for peptic ulcer
When the diagnosis of “duodenal ulcer” is made too late, surgical treatment is prescribed. It is carried out with certain indications:
- with perforation of ulcers or heavy bleeding;
- frequent exacerbations of the disease that occur despite ongoing medical treatment;
- narrowing of the output of the stomach, which arose due to cicatricial deformity of the duodenum;
- chronic inflammation, which is not amenable to ongoing drug therapy.
The essence of surgical treatment is to remove part of the stomach. During the operation, the part of the internal organ that is responsible for the secretion of gastrin in the body is excised. This substance stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that if you encounter suspicious symptoms characteristic of diseases of the duodenum, you should seek the help of a specialist clinic. Self-medication for ailments is inappropriate, because improper drug therapy, its absence or unnecessary folk remedies can cause serious harm to your body, worsen your well-being.