Nursing Blog

A peptic ulcer is a distinct breach in the mucosal lining of the stomach (gastric ulcer) or the first part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcer), a result of caustic effects of acid and pepsin in the lumen. Histologically, peptic ulcer is identified as necrosis of the mucosa which produces lesions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm (1/5"). It is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common causes of peptic ulcer. Ulcers can also be caused or worsened by drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs. Symptoms of a peptic ulcer can be abdominal pain, classically epigastric strongly correlated to mealtimes. In case of duodenal ulcers the pain appears about three hours after taking a meal; bloating and abdominal fullness; waterbrash (rush of saliva after an episode of regurgitation to dilute the acid in esophagus - although this is more associated with gastroesophagea

The symptoms of ulcers can disappear for several days, weeks, or months and can even disappear only to look back, often without an identifiable cause. Many individuals have symptoms of ulcer, and 20-30% had perforation or hemorrhage that without that precedes manifestation. Clinical Manifestation of Peptic Ulcer Pain : usually patients with ulcers complain of a dull pain, like a punctured or epigastric burning sensation in the middle or at the back. It is believed that the pain occurs when the acid content of gastric and duodenal increased erosion and stimulate the nerve endings exposed. Another theory suggests that the lesion contact with acids stimulate local reflex mechanisms that initiate the surrounding smooth muscle contraction. Pain is usually relieved by eating, from eating to neutralize the acid or by using an alkali, but when the stomach is empty or unused alkaline back pain arises. Local press that sharp pain can be eliminated by providing gentle pressure on the epigastrium