About the Stomach
The stomach is a large pouch-like structure located just below the diaphragm in the upper abdomen. It can hold a quart or more of food at any time. The lining of the stomach secretes a strong solution of hydrochloric acid that begins breaking down the chemical structure of food we eat. The stomach also mixes the food thoroughly and then pushes it into the small intestine where the nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream.
Symptoms of Stomach Problems
The stomach is subject to a number of minor conditions related to the types and amounts of foods that we take in. Conditions such as food poisoning and stomach viruses often cause nausea and vomiting, as the stomach attempts to expel its contents. More serious stomach problems include bleeding from gastritis (inflammation), ulcers or tumors. For some, small amounts of bleeding from the stomach may occur without any outward signs, and is only suspected when the patient is found to be anemic. In other cases bleeding from the stomach can be life threatening, with both vomiting of blood and the passing of large bloody stools. In either case, the best test for determining the source of bleeding is usually and endoscopic examination.
Testing for Stomach Problems
Upper GI endoscopy is one of the most common tests used to evaluate the stomach and esophagus. Under moderate sedation a flexible endoscope is passed through the mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach pouch. Air is used to inflate the stomach, which makes it possible to visualize the entire lining. The endoscope is also passed into the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum, to assess the health of this organ. The endoscopic exam is usually only a diagnostic tool, but in recent years, new procedures and devices have been developed that allow surgeons to perform certain procedures on the stomach from inside the stomach. These “Incisionless Surgery” procedures offer patients the benefits of no painful incisions and rapid recovery, but to date their application remains limited to only a few stomach conditions.
Minimally Invasive Treatment Options
Laparoscopic techniques can be used in the management of various stomach problems, including perforated ulcers and even gastric tumors. The most common laparoscopic procedures that involve the stomach are the various operations used in the treatment of obesity. Virtually every bariatric procedure is based on reducing the size of the stomach pouch as a means of helping the patient lose weight. The most common procedures are: