Peptic ulcer disease (or ulcers) and tumors: These were the most common surgical diseases of the stomach until about thirty years ago.  However, today powerful oral medications can treated the first type and maybe prevent the second type.  Only very few patients require surgery.  They are both diagnosed by a simple screening test (EGD).

Generality: It is not known why people get a loss of the lining of the stomach (called ulcer).  However, it seems that both an elevated acid production by the stomach and a lining infection by a bacterium called Helicobacter Pilorii are involved with this process.  Since the use of powerful antacids (Tagamet ®, Zantac ®, Pepcid ®, and Nexium ®) and of antibiotics against the H. Pilorii, the incidence of gastric ulcers has dramatically decreased.

Anesthesia: General anesthesia.

Type of Procedure: Depending on the severity and location of the ulcer, part or most of the stomach are removed and the bowel is reconnected as necessary. 

Recovery Time: About one week.

Postoperative Pain: Moderate to severe.