Gastrointestinal Nursing.pdf

The Stomach 43Figure 4.2 Summary of gastrointestinal peptides. Reproduced with permission fromHinchliff et al. (1996).H + ions stimulate the release of pepsinogen. Gastrin stimulates pepsinogendirectly via receptors; however, the most potent effect of gastrin upon pepsinogensecretion is its indirect action via acid secretion.PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE STOMACHPathophysiological conditions that are seen in the stomach include gastritis,gastric and duodenal ulceration and tumours of the stomach.GastritisGastritis means inflammation of the gastric mucosa. It is caused by irritants,such as gastric acid, bile reflux, medications or toxins. Gastritis is often associatedwith an impairment of natural protective mechanisms. It can be classifiedaccording to its inflammatory pattern as acute (erosive, haemorrhagic gastritis)or chronic (non-erosive gastritis).Acute gastritisThis may involve the gastric body and antrum of the stomach and is oftenerosive and haemorrhagic. The response of the gastric mucosa to trauma issimilar to that in other tissues with the release of an array of physiologicallyactive substances. Erythema and oedema are predominant features.