Peptic ulcer disease affects millions of people every year. Peptic ulcers are so common that on average, one out of every 10 adults will develop an ulcer at least once during their lifetime. Ulcers are painful sores that develop when the digestive juices damage the protective lining of the stomach or intestines. Though most mild ulcers tend to resolve on their own, those that recur or remain unhealed can lead to complications and extreme distress without treatment. A common and highly effective way to treat ulcers is surgery involves the removal of the damaged tissues in the stomach or intestines and restructures the organs. The procedure is also referred to as a gastric resection.
Dr. Abitn Khosravi, MD, FACS, uses traditional or laparoscopic techniques and technology, such as the da Vinci Robotic Surgical system to treat disorders of the stomach and intestines (duodenum), including peptic ulcer disease. He offers laparoscopic and robotic surgery for unhealed ulcers at the Orange Country General Robotic Surgery center in California. Anyone who is experiencing pain or discomfort from slow healing and unhealed ulcers should consider the following benefits of laparoscopic and robot-assisted stomach surgery.
Why Use Laparoscopic Gastric Surgery to Treat Ulcers?
Surgery is a highly efficient way to manage gastric ulcers, tumors, and other common disorders and diseases of the stomach or duodenum. It halts the spread of infection, damage, bleeding, and pain. Without proper treatment, ulcers can spread and damage more than the inner lining of the stomach or intestines. They can perforate the stomach or intestinal wall, allowing stomach acid, bile, and bacteria to leak into the abdominal area and internal bleeding. Leaking ulcers are serious and require immediate medical care, such as surgery to prevent life-threatening infections, sepsis, and peritonitis, and death.
Though lifestyle, stress, diet management, and medications are traditionally used to treat ulcers, those methods don’t always work. For example, laparoscopic surgery is ideal for large hemorrhaging ulcers that fail to respond favorably to endoscopic surgery, medication, and other common ulcer treatments. The use of laparoscopic techniques and the da Vinci Robot make surgery a safer and more efficient procedure for patching or removing ulcers and damaged tissues and nerves.
Benefits of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery for Unhealed Ulcers
Minimal pain and discomfort – Patients don’t have to worry about spending excess time in the hospital before, during, or after their procedures. The use of laparoscopic techniques and technology allows the surgeon to perform more complex surgical maneuvers in a smaller surgical area. Patients end up with less postoperative pain, stiffness, soreness. Traditional surgery for ulcers involves the use of large incisions and the risk of more damage to healthy tissues, leading to more pain and discomfort during recovery.
Shorter healing and recovery – Laparoscopic and robotic-assisted ulcer surgery patients spend less time recovering. Unlike open gastric or ulcer repair, laparoscopic repairs cause less trauma and damage to the patient’s body. This reduces the amount of post-operative observation and recovery care necessary in laparoscopic ulcer repairs. Patients can safely resume solid foods, their normal physical activities, and regain proper bowel function much sooner than traditional ulcer repair recipients.
Smaller and fewer incisions and less scar tissue – Patients have fewer cosmetic complaints. Dr. Khosravi uses laparoscopic surgical instruments to create one or a few small incisions in conspicuous places in the abdomen. This allows him to target the diseased portions of the lining in the stomach or intestines and complete the procedure using complex techniques with minimal trauma to the cells and tissues of the skin and muscles. The results are less scarring and bruising for patients.
Fewer and a lower risk of complications – Repairing the stomach and intestines via smaller incisions decreases the risk of blood loss, infection, new perforations, and other common side effects and complications associated with ulcer surgery.
Traditional gastric/ulcer surgery utilizes “open” surgical techniques and is very invasive. Long incisions are necessary for the surgeon to have enough room to access the damaged portions of the stomach or intestinal lining. Open gastric ulcer repair patients typically spend several hours or weeks in the hospital for observation. Upon discharge home, patients are under special postoperative care and restrictions for six weeks or longer, depending on their situations.
Is Laparoscopic or Robot-Assisted Ulcer Repair Surgery Right for You?
Due to their popularity, high efficacy, and lack of invasiveness, laparoscopic and robotic ulcer surgery are safe and convenient ways to manage perforations of the stomach or intestines, tumors and cancers, and other common gastric conditions. They are also suitable for patients suffering tumors, cancers, gallbladder dysfunction, hernias, and other stomach conditions. These procedures are beneficial for most peptic ulcer disease patients, including those whose ulcers failed to respond favorably to medication and alternative treatment conventions. Laparoscopic and robot-assisted ulcer procedures are not suitable for certain individuals. A comprehensive medical evaluation is necessary to determine appropriate ulcer repair treatment recommendations.
To learn if you’re a good candidate for laparoscopic or robotic ulcer surgery, call Orange County Robotic General Surgery center at (714)-541-4996 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Khosravi, MD.
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To find out if inguinal hernia repair surgery is right for you, Contact Orange County General Robotic Surgery at (714) 706-1257 for a consultation with Dr. Abtin H. Khosravi.
