A diverticulum of the stomach is a pathology of the intestine, in which diverticula appear on its walls - hernia-like formations up to 2 cm in size. These formations protrude toward the abdominal cavity, they can appear immediately after birth with an incorrect diet of the baby.
Some statistics
There is an opinion that diverticulums are a genetic feature of a particular person, but this happens very rarely. At the age of 30 years, pathology is very rarely diagnosed.
The peak incidence occurs at the age of 80 years, at this age pathology is detected in 8 out of 10 patients. 60% of people find this disease aged 60 to 80 years, and only 30% of the population - aged 30 to 60 years.
But the disease has not only age-related causes. Pathology is almost never diagnosed in countries where the basis of the diet is fiber, where the economy is at a developmental stage. In Africa and Asia, almost no one is diagnosed with the disease. In European and other developed countries, diverticulum of the stomach is diagnosed very often. This is due to the fact that the population of these countries is addicted to fast food, consumes a lot of bakery products, meat.
Russia was no exception. The number of patients in a country with such a diagnosis is almost equal to the number in European countries. At the same time, doctors note that the disease is rapidly "getting younger", more and more often it is found in people aged 20 years.
Why is this happening?
Scientists in the field of medicine claim that the diverticulum of a person’s stomach occurs against the background of increased pressure of feces on the intestinal wall. A person accumulates a huge amount of gas, which also presses on the intestinal wall. And the reason for everything is an unbalanced diet, a small amount of fiber in the diet. People with such a pathology consume a lot of food, which leads to the formation of a dense food lump, which puts pressure on the intestines. As a result, diverticula appear in “weak” places where the vessels are located close to the surface.
Naturally, there are people with a genetic predisposition to the disease, but it is a very rare phenomenon that a person should have an unbalanced diet so that the disease begins to progress.
Risk factors
Provoking factors include chronic diseases of the digestive system: peptic ulcer of the duodenum and stomach. Equally important is the amount of food consumed by a person, if he passes, then he is at risk. Overdosing, flatulence and prolonged vomiting can also provoke the development of a diverticulum of the stomach.
Symptoms
Diverticulum of the stomach usually does not have vivid symptoms, so it is quite difficult to diagnose.
If there are several diverticulums, then the following symptoms may be observed:
- lack of stool for more than a day;
- severity and sometimes pain in the stomach with localization in the lower left part;
- increased flatulence and flatulence;
- blood discharge from the anus without any pain.
However, few pay attention to all these symptoms, they are more associated with other diseases.
The acute form can be accompanied by severe pain and a pronounced violation of the stool.
Stages of the disease
There are several forms of diverticulum of the stomach, which occur against the background of different symptoms:
- Latent form. It is characterized by an almost complete absence of symptoms.
- The pseudo-ulcer form in its symptoms is very similar to the initial stage of peptic ulcer. The patient often has belching, nausea, frequent pain after eating, and dispersion may occur. If diverticulums form in the epigastric region, then the pain appears behind the sternum and in the region of the left hypochondrium with radiation to the scapula.
- The pseudocanceromatous form is characterized by exhaustion, asthenization, pain of an unknown etiology. Some patients have an increase in low-grade fever.
- The combined form suggests that diverticula of the bottom of the stomach appear against the background of cholecystitis, stomach cancer or other gastrointestinal pathologies.
Dyspeptic or gastric forms are also distinguished.
Possible complications
One of the most dangerous complications is bleeding, which can result in death. Before bleeding begins, as a rule, there are pains in the epigastric region, which are given to the shoulder and shoulder blade. In a sitting position, pain can intensify. If there is too much blood loss, vomiting with bloody patches may be observed. If the blood loss is small, but prolonged, then stool with tarry feces is observed, weakness and pain gradually increase.
Perforation or atrophy of the growth membrane may occur with further rupture. In some patients, twisting of the diverticulum leg with infringement of the mesentery of the transverse intestine is observed. Against the background of a diverticulum, secondary gastritis, sarcoma, polyps and even cancer may appear.
Diagnostics
Stomach diverticulum - what is it and how is it diagnosed? The “gold standard” for diagnosing this pathology is fibrogastroduodenoscopy. During the study, biopsy material is also taken.
An X-ray contrast study, ultrasound, computed tomography can be performed.
If the disease proceeds without complications, then laboratory tests are not required. If there is a suspicion of gastric ulcer, blood sampling may be performed.
Therapy
Today, there is no single methodology for resolving symptoms and treating diverticulum of the stomach. A major role in stabilizing the patient's condition is dietary nutrition. Antispasmodics and prokinetics are used during the period of exacerbation and only after a thorough examination of the whole organism.
In old age, conservative therapy is mandatory to prevent surgical intervention.
If the patient has constipation, laxatives may be prescribed, however, self-selection of such drugs is not recommended.
Surgical Treatment Techniques
If there are no complications, but pain is clearly expressed, then a planned operation can be performed. Emergency operations are performed if there is a threat to life, bleeding, malignancy or perforation has begun.
Possible types of operations:
- a diverticulum resection with parallel double-row stitching of a defect in the wall of the stomach;
- intussusception may be performed in the lumen of the stomach with simultaneous stitching of the mouth of the growth;
- gastric resection is performed if a diverticulum has formed in the pyloric region.
However, with timely contact to a medical institution and full compliance with the recommended rules for the treatment of diverticulum of the stomach, the risk of having to undergo an operation is minimal.
Diet food
Correction of the diet is aimed at normalizing the volume and consistency of feces, at eliminating pain and cramping. Quite often, lifestyle correction is required, that is, an increase in physical activity.
With a diverticulum of the stomach, the diet is based on the use of ballast substances, fiber and food, which have a stimulating effect on the work of the lower parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
Recommended Foods for Daily Use:
- Any types of bran. 2-3 tablespoons should be consumed throughout the day.
- Brown or "wild" rice, that is, unpeeled varieties.
- From fatty foods, you can use sunflower and olive, butter.
- About half a kilogram of vegetables and fruits should be eaten per day. It is better to use them with cheese. Vegetables should be steamed, mashed or grated from them. Fruits are best consumed in the form of compotes, dried fruits, jelly and jelly.
- You can eat sugar, candy and honey.
- Flour products are only those that are made from wholemeal flour.
- Dairy products are allowed: kefir, cottage cheese, mild cheese, cream, yogurt, sour cream.
- Cereals and cereals should be from crushed or whole grains. It is advisable that they are steamed or milk, water.
It is mandatory to abandon all products that are of animal origin, excluding fermented milk products. Meat and fish are possible, but in limited quantities - no more than 150 grams per day. Ideally, you should eat 1 part meat or fish and 4 parts fiber. It is better to steam the meat and grind it on a grater or in a blender. You can not eat more than two eggs per day. They should be soft-boiled or cooked in the form of an omelet, scrambled eggs.
Nutrition should be regular and uniform, 5-6 times throughout the day.
Under the ban are:
- salted and smoked dishes;
- muffin;
- semi-finished products;
- sweets: halva, chocolate;
- canned foods;
- sunflower seeds.
You can not use soups on "heavy" broths of chicken, other meat, fish, mushrooms. It is not allowed to eat sour cabbage soup and okroshka. You will have to abandon carbonated drinks, coffee, kvass, alcohol.
Forecast and Prevention
In most cases, the prognosis for recovery is favorable. However, if bleeding occurs, there is a high risk of recurrence in a few months or even years. There is a chance of developing anemia. There is also a risk of peritonitis, penetration into neighboring organs. If a pathology is detected, the patient is put on a dispensary account.
Today, there are no specific preventive measures. However, it is still possible to reduce the likelihood of developing a disease. First of all, you should eat right, eliminate any inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, and prevent the occurrence of diseases of the stomach and duodenum.
Of great importance in preventing the appearance of a diverticulum in a child is the attitude of the mother to nutrition and lifestyle during the gestation period. If the expectant mother wants her child to be healthy, then she must adhere to all the recommendations of the doctor.