Duodenal Ulcers Flashcards
What structures do superficial and deeper duodenal ulcers involve?
Superficial ulcers involve the submucosa
deeper ulcers involve the muscularis propria or the serosa
What are common predisposing factors for duodenal ulcers
Helicobacter pylori infection
NSAID or aspirin use
smoking
stress.
Name less common causes of duodenal ulcers
Gastrinoma (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)
radiation
Crohn’s disease
cocaine
gastroduodenal dysmotility.
What is the operative mortality rate for emergency peptic ulcer surgery?
About 30%.
How can recurrent ulcers after surgery be minimized?
By eradicating H. pylori infection
avoiding NSAIDs and aspirin
and abstaining from smoking
When should testing for H. pylori infection be performed?
active or a history of peptic ulcer disease
MALT
early gastric cancer
or those requiring long-term aspirin or NSAIDs
What tests can confirm H. pylori eradication?
Urea breath test
fecal antigen test
endoscopic biopsy
(H. pylori serology should not be used to confirm cure).
Some Common Helicobacter Treatment Regimens (10– 14 Days)
-Clarithromycin triple therapy (PPI, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, or metronidazole)
-Bismuth quadruple therapy (PPI, bismuth, tetracycline, nitroimidazole)
-Sequential therapy (PPI and amoxicillin for 5– 7 days, and then a PPI, clarithromycin, and nitroimidazole for 5– 7 days)
-Hybrid therapy (a PPI and amoxicillin for 7 days, and then a PPI, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and nitroimidazole for 7 days)
Patients Without Penicillin Allergy With Either Prior Macrolide Exposure or in a Region With >15% Clarithromycin Resistance
-Bismuth quadruple therapy
OR
-Levofloxacin triple therapy (PPI, levofloxacin, amoxicillin)
Can daily aspirin for cardiovascular prophylaxis be safely taken in patients with a history of duodenal ulcers?
Yes, with daily (PPI)
When is long-term PPI treatment recommended in patients with duodenal ulcers?
all patients who have been hospitalized for duodenal ulcers, unless they have undergone a vagotomy.
In which patients should gastrectomy for duodenal ulcers be avoided?
avoided in thin or chronically malnourished patients.
What are some early and late findings in a patient with a perforated duodenal ulcer?
Early findings include tachycardia
Late Findings: fever, tachypnea, and hypotension
What is the mortality risk for a perforated duodenal ulcer?
It is high, up to 30% in some series, especially with delayed treatment.
What is the treatment of choice for most patients with a perforated duodenal ulcer?
Laparotomy or laparoscopy with peritoneal washout and omental patch closure of the perforation.
When should a biopsy of a duodenal ulcer be performed during surgery?
performed if there is any suspicion of malignancy.
Is antifungal treatment routinely recommended in cases of duodenal ulcer perforation?
No
reserved for frail, immunosuppressed, or hospitalized patients, but not routinely used.
What postoperative measures are typically taken after surgery for a perforated duodenal ulcer
Placement of at least one closed-suction peritoneal drain and sending peritoneal fluid for culture and sensitivity, including fungal studies
What is the most common method for repairing a perforated duodenal ulcer?
Omental patching, also known as Graham patching
How large is the typical perforation in the duodenum when using the omental patch technique?
Less than 1 cm.
Why is primary closure of the perforation often avoided in omental patching?
The friable duodenal tissue adjacent to the perforation may cause sutures to pull through, enlarging the hole or narrowing a scarred gastric outlet
How is the omental patch held in place?
By using interrupted seromuscular Lembert sutures placed into healthy duodenum on either side of the perforation.
How is the adequacy of the seal tested after omental patch placement?
By submerging the site under irrigation fluid and injecting air or methylene blue into a nasogastric tube, which remains in place postoperatively
What is a key challenge in repairing large duodenal ulcer perforations (> 2 cm)?
They are difficult to securely close using the standard Graham patch technique, and primary repair is prone to breakdown, especially in chronic ulcers.
What is a potential buttress material used to support the closure of a large ulcer perforation?
Omentum or falciform ligament can be used to buttress the closure.
How can a Kocher maneuver help in repairing large duodenal ulcer perforations?
It facilitates primary closure if it can be done safely
What surgical technique can be used if a large perforation cannot be closed primarily?
The perforation can be plugged with omentum or falciform ligament
or a loop of jejunum can be used as a serosal patch.
What is the risk of using direct intubation with or without an omental buttress in treating large perforations?
It is prone to ongoing leakage but may be used as a last resort or bailout procedure.
What is the triple-tube technique, and when is it used?
It involves placing a gastrostomy, antegrade feeding jejunostomy, and a retrograde jejunostomy tube (in duodenum) for decompression.
It is used in high-risk perforations
What is pyloric exclusion, and when might it be considered?
It involves closing the pylorus with heavy absorbable suture and creating a dependent loop gastrojejunostomy, used for tenuous duodenal closures.
What is a surgical option for repairing a large chronic duodenal perforation in a stable low-risk patient?
Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy, creating a tension-free two-layer anastomosis between the debrided duodenal opening and a Roux limb.
In which patients can definitive ulcer surgery be considered for perforated duodenal ulcers?
In stable
low to medium-risk patients (ASA 1 or 2) requiring emergency surgery
with a history of duodenal ulcer
or a large perforation (> 2 cm)
When should definitive ulcer surgery be avoided?
It should be avoided
if peritonitis is severe or well-established (exudative).
What are the two current options for definitive ulcer surgery?
1) Truncal vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy (V/GJ) with or without temporary pyloric closure
(2) truncal vagotomy and antrectomy (V/A) if the perforated duodenum can be safely resected with the antrum
When should resection be avoided in definitive ulcer surgery?
If there is a risk of a tenuous duodenal stump or possible injury to the ampulla or bile duct.
How can the ampulla be protected during definitive ulcer surgery?
A biliary Fogarty catheter can be advanced from above via the cystic duct or common bile duct if the ampulla is at risk.
What are the two types of vagotomy that may be considered during laparoscopic surgery for a perforated duodenal ulcer?
(1) Bilateral truncal vagotomy
(2) the modified Taylor procedure.
What is the modified Taylor procedure in vagotomy?
posterior truncal vagotomy with division of the segmental vagal branches to the anterior stomach, while preserving the anterior innervation to the antropyloric region to facilitate gastric emptying.
Where does postoperative management typically begin for perforated ulcer patients?
In the ICU
with continued optimization of critical organ function, fluid management, and treatment of sepsis.
What imaging studies are performed postoperatively to rule out ongoing leaks and demonstrate gastric emptying?
Postoperative contrast study, either fluoroscopy or CT.
When are antibiotics typically discontinued after surgery for a perforated duodenal ulcer?
On postoperative day 5, unless there is evidence of ongoing infection
When can peritoneal drains be removed postoperatively?
Drains can be removed 24 hours after the initiation of oral liquids if drainage is benign and the patient is stable