In the article, we consider the symptoms and treatment of gastric prolapse (gastroptosis). If some adverse conditions occur, the stomach can change its normal anatomical position. In this case, there is a complete or partial displacement down, which in medical practice is called the omission of the stomach.
Norm
In the normal state, this human organ is located in the left hypochondrium of the peritoneum, and part of it is in the epigastric region. The stomach is covered on all sides by the peritoneum and is held by a special system of ligaments, which consist of the mesentery of the colon of the transverse intestine and peritoneal folds (omentum). Between these folds there is a layer of fatty tissue, which helps to fix the correct location of the organ.
What are the causes of prolapse of the stomach?
The main causes of pathology
Gastroptosis or prolapse of the stomach is considered the result of a weakening of the abdominal muscles, especially its transverse, deepest muscle (transversus abdoninus). It may also be the result of excessive sprain of the ligaments that support it in a normal position. This is due to several reasons.
The omission of the stomach, as well as other internal organs, in some cases may be congenital (constitutional) or acquired in nature. A congenital anomaly of this kind is characteristic mainly for the asthenic somatic type of a person who is distinguished by long limbs, thinness and a weak muscular system. In cases with this organ, a strong stretching of the weak gastrocolic ligaments occurs, which most often leads to the omission of the organ and a violation of its functionality, as well as to severe pain.
The main reasons for the acquired omission of this body may be as follows:
- Significant weight loss.
- Constant overstrain of the abdominal muscles (with severe types of physical labor or with weight lifting).
- Removal of a large tumor from the abdominal cavity, as well as repeated childbirth and pregnancy, as a result of which the disease is most often diagnosed in women than in men.
Complications
As noted by gastroenterologists, a complication of the prolapse of the stomach and intestines can be expressed in partial violation of their main functions - weakening of motility, difficulty in moving food through the stomach into the intestines, which is often observed during excesses of a certain part of the stomach.
In addition, incomplete closure of the sphincters of the stomach may occur, as a result of which a large amount of air enters the esophagus, which causes frequent burping. In violation of the functions of the pyloric sphincter, bile can escape from the duodenum to the stomach, which usually leads to heartburn and, in the long term, to the development of gastritis and peptic ulcer.
Pelvic prolapse
Another common consequence of this pathology of the stomach, which develops due to its pressure, is the omission of the pelvic organs and large intestine. With the development of such complications, patients have complaints of regular constipation, flatulence and pain in the lower abdomen. The intestine, whose position is disturbed, begins to exert pressure on the bladder, in men - on the prostate, and in women - on the uterus and ovaries. Thus, the chain of pathological processes that are caused by gastroptosis, in some cases, leads to many no less serious diseases.
Consider the symptoms of prolapse of the stomach.
Symptomatology
Depending on the levels at which the stomach fell down relative to the correct anatomical position, it is customary in gastroenterology to subdivide this pathology into three main degrees.
At the first two degrees, this disease in most cases goes away without pronounced symptoms. At the same time, such manifestations of the pathological process as a feeling of discomfort, heaviness and "bursting" in the stomach area, as well as aching or pulling pains in the upper abdominal cavity (this often occurs after various physical exertion or sudden movements) should be suspicious. Pain syndrome of a similar nature and localization, as a rule, is quite short.
Third stage
In cases when the prolapse of the stomach has reached the third, most difficult degree, patients, most often after eating, feel pulling pains in the epigastric region, which are often given to the heart. In this case, in a horizontal position of the body, the pain usually subsides quickly. In addition, with the constitutional form of gastroptosis, there are symptoms of prolapse of the stomach such as a decrease in appetite, nausea, belching, vomiting, as well as pain in the lumbar spine and regular constipation.
Diagnostic methods
The characteristic clinical picture with the occurrence of gastroptosis usually resembles the symptoms of many pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, diagnostic measures for lowering the stomach imply a whole range of instrumental and laboratory studies that help to evaluate not only the presence of a problem, but also its consequences.
After collecting the anamnesis, the specialist conducts a physical polypositional examination of the abdomen, when the initial position of the stomach is determined in the abdominal cavity by palpation, while the patient is in a horizontal position, and palpation in the standing position can allow the specialist to determine the level of organ retraction in the epigastric region, as well as protrusion in the supral area of the abdomen.
The following methods are also used to determine an adequate diagnosis for gastric prolapse:
- X-ray examinations of the stomach and esophagus using a contrast medium.
- Endoscopic studies of the functional qualities of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular esophagogastroduodenoscopy (endoscopy).
- Fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy of the esophagus, duodenum and stomach.
How to raise a lowered stomach is interesting to many.
Treatment of a pathological phenomenon
The treatment of this problem that is generally accepted in medical practice is conservative, and a special place in the therapy of gastric prolapse is given to special physiotherapy exercises and a proper diet.
With severe pain with this pathology, a variety of analgesics are prescribed that help to quickly relieve pain and cramps, and if constipation occurs, laxative drugs.
Surgery
As for the surgical treatment of gastric prolapse, specialists resort to it extremely rarely due to the high probability of relapse of such a disease. Surgical correction of the omission of the second and third degree can be carried out with some other pathologies that complicate this process. For example, with the reverse movement of the contents of the stomach through the lower esophageal sphincter into the esophagus, with the so-called gastroesophageal reflux.
As a result of fundoplication - surgical intervention to eliminate this pathology - the organ is sutured to the diaphragm around the esophagus opening with its fixation to the peritoneal wall, due to which the stomach begins to be pulled up.
Gymnastics
Effective exercises for lowering the stomach. There is a specially developed set of exercises that are aimed at increasing the tone of the muscles of the abdominal wall. In such a complex of exercises, there are no sharp tilts of the body forward and jumps, that is, movements that provoke the displacement of internal organs.
Such exercise when lowering the stomach is designed so that the load is suitable for absolutely all patients, regardless of the degree of pathology and age, and all such exercises in the initial periods of therapy are performed exclusively in the supine position.
Gymnastic techniques for lowering the stomach are as follows. The initial position of the patient is lying on his back, legs are straightened, and arms are extended:
- Take the deepest breath possible, which will require "squeezing" the air through the tension of the abdominal press (repeat the exercise 10 times).
- Alternately lifting straight legs (repeat 10 times).
- Take a deep breath, while bending one leg at the knee and clasping it with both hands, press it against the chest. After that, the same thing is done with the second leg (repeat the exercise should be 5 times with each leg).
- Similar leg movements, as in the previous exercise, however, they are performed by simultaneously bending both legs.
- Both legs should be bent at the knees, while the pelvis should be raised with the body resting on the legs, the occipital region of the head and elbows (repeat 5 times).
- Bend the legs at the knees and lift, after which movements are made that simulate riding a bicycle (repeat 10 times).
- Straighten your legs, stretch your arms along the body, after which - raising the inhale straight arms up, with the plant behind their head, and on the exhale - return to the starting position (repeat 10 times).
After each of the above exercises, pause for rest. And at the end of the entire charge, you need to lie down a bit, placing a pillow or roller under your feet.
Massages
Specialists also recommend special massages when lowering the stomach. For this, the palm is placed on the pit of the stomach, and light strokes of the abdomen are made in a circle - 10 times clockwise, after which - in the opposite direction. When stroking strokes, as if in a spiral, it is necessary to bring them closer to the navel, and then expand them again.
With severe forms of gastroptosis, doctors also recommend wearing special bandages, which should be worn while lying down (in the morning, on an empty stomach) and removed before bedtime.
With the manifestation of symptoms of prolapse of the stomach, treatment is a long process.
Diet
The recommendations of gastroenterologists are as follows:
- During the day, you should eat food in small portions up to six times. This is necessary to maintain the normal size of the stomach, and since a large amount of food stretches it, you need to take it in small portions so that it is not in the stomach for a long time. It is also advisable to eat at the same time, in order to accustom the stomach to proper operation. Food should be light, but at the same time quite high-calorie and rich in essential substances.
- Everything eaten at one meal should contribute to the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal system as a whole, therefore, dietary nutrition when the stomach is lowered should include cereals (except rice and semolina), vegetables (stewed and raw), lean meats (veal, beef), poultry and sea fish, fruits and dairy products.
- To combat constipation, salads should be seasoned with vegetable oil, mayonnaise be excluded from the diet, kefir should be consumed, and several dried prunes should be eaten daily. It is also necessary to abandon white bread and butter yeast pastries, replacing them with bread made from wholemeal flour, as well as various dietary bread rolls and biscuits.
In severe forms of gastroptosis, experts also advise after each meal to take a horizontal position of the body - at least an hour. This helps to ensure that the food does not exert pressure on the lower parts of the stomach, as a result of which the prolapse does not progress, and the ligamentous apparatus inside the abdominal cavity is gradually strengthened by performing gymnastic exercises.
Treatment of pathology with alternative methods
In the absence of appetite, which often accompanies the prolapse of the stomach, it is recommended to prepare an infusion of medicinal plants: calamus swamp, wormwood, yarrow, centaury, chicory root or dandelion.
To do this, take a tablespoon of the collection, pour boiling water, brew for thirty minutes and filter. Take this medicine should be one spoonful before meals.
To produce a sufficient amount of gastric juice, decoctions of plantain leaves, rhizomes of the cinquefoil (Kalgan) are used.
Treatment of pathology with alternative methods also involves the use of clay applications. For this, a steep mass of clay and water is used, from which a cake is made and superimposed on the stomach area for several hours.
Now we know how to treat gastric prolapse.