Gastric Health Dictionary

A usually chronic condition, started by irritation, with congestion in time, leading to edema, blistering, and the formation of an ulcer. Hylobacter infections seem to prolong and aggravate the condition, but the presence alone of the bacteria, without functional impairment, will not begin the disease. Possessing a certain “workaholic” panache...even boasted of in some business circles as if to validate one’s work ethic, it nonetheless is fatal if untreated.... gastric ulcer

Hair-like appendages in the stomach of most cubozoan jellyfish. They contain nematocysts and aid in digestion.... gastric cirri

A method of gastric decontamination used in the treatment of poisoning. It is not used routinely. Lavage involves the passage of a lubricated tube via the mouth and OESOPHAGUS into the stomach. Patients are positioned on their side with the head lower than the feet. A small quantity of ?uid (300 ml) is passed into the stomach and the contents then drained out (by gravity) by lowering the end of the tube. This is repeated until the solution is clear of particulate matter. The procedure should be done only by an experienced health professional.... gastric lavage

See: REFLUX. GASTRIC ULCER. See: PEPTIC ULCER. ... gastric reflux

A break in the surface layer of the membrane lining the stomach. A break deeper than this layer is called a gastric ulcer (see peptic ulcer).Gastric erosions occur in some cases of gastritis.

Many erosions result from ingestion of alcohol, iron tablets, or aspirin.

The physical stress of serious illness, such as kidney failure, or of burns may bring on an erosion.

Often there are no symptoms, but erosions may bleed, causing vomiting of blood or blood in the faeces.

Persistent loss of blood may lead to anaemia.

Gastric erosions are diagnosed by gastroscopy.

They usually heal in a few days when they are treated with antacid drugs and ulcer-healing drugs.... gastric erosion

Washing out the stomach with water, usually to remove toxins.... lavage, gastric

a form of *bariatric surgery in which a band is placed around the stomach to effectively reduce its size and therefore restrict the amount of food it can accommodate. Weight loss should result. The procedure can be performed either in open operation or laparoscopically. The bands can be of a fixed size or adjustable (to vary calorie intake) by means of a small reservoir situated under the skin into which fluid can be injected or removed by the patient.... gastric banding

any of several procedures of *bariatric surgery that allow food to bypass parts of the gut in order to reduce absorption of nutrients and calories. Such operations often lead to greater weight loss than restrictive procedures, such as *gastric banding and *stomach stapling, but there are significant long-term complications relating to chronic malabsorption and patients must remain under long-term specialist follow-up.... gastric bypass surgery

tubular glands that lie in the mucous membrane of the stomach wall. There are three varieties: the cardiac, parietal (oxyntic), and pyloric glands, and they secrete *gastric juice.... gastric glands

the liquid secreted by the *gastric glands of the stomach. Its main digestive constituents are hydrochloric acid, mucin, *rennin, and pepsinogen. The acid acts on pepsinogen to produce *pepsin, which functions best in an acid medium. The acidity of the stomach contents also kills unwanted bacteria and other organisms that have been ingested with the food. Gastric juice also contains *intrinsic factor, which is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12.... gastric juice

see stomach stapling.... gastric stapling