Diseases of the digestive system are very common in the modern world. The reason for this is the wrong lifestyle along with non-compliance with the diet and so on. In this regard, it is very important to contact a specialist in a timely manner if any violation is detected in the body. Obstruction of the stomach can be acquired or congenital. This disease also comes in two forms: acute and chronic. So, let's take a closer look at why exactly people have obstruction, what are its symptoms and how you can get rid of it.
Main reasons
Very often the cause of gastric obstruction is the presence of benign or malignant tumor processes. The chances of finding a blockage depend on the stage of the cancer at which the pathological process is located. In this case, one of the detrimental factors can be a decrease in the he althy functioning of the organ due to a fatal change in the structure of its internal walls.
Moreone case, due to which there is an obstruction of food in the stomach, is a peptic ulcer. Against the background of this process, the pathologically altered tissue narrows the passage to the intestine and becomes an obstacle to the normal functioning of the entire digestive system.
Provoking factors
There are also several factors that often cause patients to develop gastric obstruction. They are:
- Presence of abdominal hernia or adhesive disease.
- When intussusception, when one part of the intestine is introduced into the lumen of the other.
- With bezoar, when there is a foreign body in the stomach.
- Against the background of progressive tuberculosis of the digestive organs.
- Against the background of inflammation of the diverticulum, that is, with an inflammatory process in the intestine.
- For fistulas, which are pathological openings in the lumen of the stomach or intestines.
Stomach obstruction in newborns
Intestinal obstruction in infants can be difficult due to the fact that intestinal motility is disturbed or there is some kind of mechanical obstruction in the course of the passage of feces. It can be deadly.
Congenital obstruction occurs due to pathological narrowing of the lumen at the border between the stomach and intestines. This pathology is also called pyloric stenosis. This is the main reason for the delay and difficulty in passing breast milk or formula in the first weeks of a baby's life. As a result, after two weeks from the start of feeding, frequent regurgitation can be observed in a largevolume.
Another reason is the atypical structure of the intestines in an infant or a lot of "loops".
Scientists' observations
Modern scientists have come to the conclusion that gastric obstruction can occur regardless of the age of the patient. This phenomenon can be observed even in newborns.
With age, of course, the risks of such a disease increase, since over the years, the performance of a number of organs of the digestive system in people deteriorates significantly. But babies also have the possibility of obstruction, since their stomach is not yet adapted to the food familiar to adults and is therefore so vulnerable.
In newborns, such a phenomenon as gastric obstruction can be caused by untimely introduction of complementary foods. Very rarely, birth defects that are responsible for the digestive process can also be observed in the structure of organs. Also, scientists are aware of cases of clogging of the children's stomach due to an increase in temperature or infectious pathologies.
Symptoms in the presence of cancer in the stomach
In the presence of obstruction of the stomach, the symptoms directly depend on the stage at which the disease is located. The most common sign by which something is wrong is profuse vomiting. Due to the fact that the products cannot enter the intestines, they are thrown out. Against this background, the released masses are distinguished by an unpleasant and putrefactive odor. Often, as mentioned earlier,the cause of such obstruction can be large malignant gastric neoplasms (tumors), which eventually atrophy the organ.
When gastric obstruction due to cancer, the patient will constantly feel a feeling of nausea, and in addition, he will also be accompanied by heaviness after eating, along with profuse vomiting. Against this background, undigested food residues with mucus with a green tint and blood clots may be in the vomit.
Common symptoms of gastric obstruction
Pathology can cause the following symptoms in people:
- Sudden weight loss, which may be accompanied by an absolute loss of appetite.
- Decrease in overall performance and mental abilities.
- The appearance of apathy and excessive weakness.
- Appearance of blanching of the skin.
- The appearance of a constant feeling of heaviness immediately after each meal.
- Presence of soreness in the abdomen.
- The presence of sharp pain in the stomach.
Carrying out the diagnosis of pathology
In order to determine the presence of gastric obstruction in adults, some special research methods are used today. For example, the most effective and the main ones are radiography and fibrogastroscopy using a contrast agent. When performing the procedure, the doctor examines in detail the obstacles that have arisen against the background of the passage of the food bolus, and in addition, describes the general condition of the stomach. In order to clarifydiagnosis, a biopsy is also done, which involves the intravital sampling of a small part of the tissue from the patient's organ.
The use of radiographic contrast method is also a very informative diagnostic technique. As part of this study, the doctor checks the physiological narrowing of the stomach along with its shape and outline, and in conclusion, conclusions are drawn about the causes of organ obstruction. In the event that the screen shows that the contrast component completely fills the lumen of the organ, this may indicate stenosis of the stomach, which arose as a result of a peptic ulcer.
If uneven and curved outlines of an organ are noticeable, and its physiological narrowing is located in any department, then we can talk about the presence of a tumor formation. Some forms of oncology can have such a negative effect on the structure of the organ that the stomach walls look tight, because of this, the lumen narrows even more, and a specific shape is created directly during fluoroscopy, which is also called the “gun holster”.
Now let's move on to the treatment of gastric obstruction and find out what therapeutic techniques are used to combat the disease.
Treatment of pathology on the background of peptic ulcer disease
In the event that the manifestation of gastric obstruction is detected at home, then you need to know how to properly provide first aid. With slow developmentdiseases of special efforts and any specific actions are not recommended. In the event that profuse vomiting occurs, the patient must be provided with dishes, napkins, and so on. You should also give the patient to drink green tea. Regular strong black tea will do. The patient then needs to be hospitalized. In the clinic, immediately after the diagnosis and the final clarification of the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe an individual treatment.
In the event that the result of the study is the discovery of a peptic ulcer, there are several methods of therapy:
- Removal of small branches of the vagus nerve. After such manipulation, the patient will increase the production of gastric juice.
- Performing the installation of drainage in the organ of the digestive system, within which the pyloric constriction is released.
Often both of these options are used in combination.
Oncology Therapy
When else is surgery performed for gastric obstruction?
In case of detection of a malignant tumor in the stomach (when there is profuse vomiting), patients are subject to mandatory surgical intervention, which will be based on amputation, that is, the removal of part of the organ (stomach). In the event that metastasis to neighboring organs is detected during laboratory diagnosis, the doctor will additionally prescribe painkillers along with nutrition, which will occur with the help of probing. Foods such as liquid broths with vegetable purees and the like are introduced.
Thus, gastric obstruction is a very serious pathology, which is characterized by failures in the promotion of products through the digestive system from the stomach cavity. This phenomenon provokes dangerous situations when food stagnates, and the gastric walls are greatly stretched. At the same time, pathological processes begin to occur in the cavity of the stomach. Among other things, there is a violation in the flow of a sufficient amount of oxygen. In addition, against the background of such processes, improper blood circulation occurs in the region of the organ.
It is important to keep in mind that if at least one of the above symptoms is detected, it is necessary to urgently contact specialists, since untimely therapy can lead to fatal consequences. It should also be remembered that preventive methods are currently the most important link in he alth, so as not to get sick with such pathologies.
