Common complications of chronic gastric ulcers:
Chronic gastric ulcer is a type of ulcer that recurs over a long period. Gastric ulcers are characterized by long-term, periodic, and seasonal flare-ups. Without proper treatment, ulcers can recur repeatedly, and the course of the disease can last for decades. Common clinical symptoms include abdominal pain, heartburn, bloating, melena (black stools), and even hematemesis (vomiting blood).
Chronic gastric ulcers, if left untreated for a long time, can lead to many complications, including:
1. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is the most common complication of peptic ulcers, accounting for 20% of cases. ~30% of ulcer patients have a history of bleeding, with duodenal ulcer bleeding being more common than gastric ulcer bleeding. Statistics show that ulcers account for approximately 50% of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, ranking first. Most peptic ulcer bleeding stops spontaneously. Gastric ulcer bleeding is more common than duodenal ulcer bleeding. Bleeding is most likely to occur within 1-2 years after the onset of a peptic ulcer.
2. Ulcer perforation. Clinically, peptic ulcer perforation can be classified into three types: acute, subacute, and chronic. The incidence of duodenal ulcers is higher than that of gastric ulcers. Duodenal ulcer perforation is more common in young adults under 40 years old, while gastric ulcer perforation is more common in middle-aged and elderly people over 50 years old.
3. Pyloric obstruction. Approximately 10% of patients with peptic ulcers may develop pyloric obstruction, most commonly in duodenal ulcers, followed by pyloric canal or prepyloric ulcers. In recent years, this complication has significantly decreased due to the widespread use of various effective anti-ulcer drugs through medical education networks. Pyloric obstruction can be organic or functional. The former is caused by submucosal fibrosis resulting from chronic ulcers, leading to scarring and stenosis, which is unresponsive to medical treatment and often requires surgery; the latter is caused by congestion and edema of the tissues surrounding the ulcer and reflex spasm of the pylorus, which is responsive to medical treatment.
Chronic gastric ulcers seriously endanger patients' health. In addition to active treatment, prevention is also important. Paying attention to food hygiene, eating three meals a day regularly and in appropriate portions, experiencing moderate hunger, and chewing slowly are the best measures to prevent the disease.