Do duodenal ulcers require surgery?
Disease description:
If you have a duodenal ulcer and often experience abdominal pain, typically a bloating sensation, is surgery required for a duodenal ulcer?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
In most cases, the treatment of duodenal ulcers does not require surgery and is primarily managed through a comprehensive approach involving medication, eradication of Helicobacter pylori, and endoscopic therapy. Medications commonly selected include proton pump inhibitors, with a typical treatment course lasting 4–6 weeks. Surgical intervention, such as gastroduodenectomy with anastomosis or vagotomy, is considered only when severe complications like bleeding, perforation, or obstruction occur and medical treatment proves ineffective. Therefore, the decision on whether surgery is needed for a duodenal ulcer should be based on the patient's specific clinical condition and presence of complications.
