Do you need anti-inflammatory medication after gastric polyp surgery?

Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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The treatment of gastric polyps generally involves endoscopic removal. After the surgery, patients are usually advised to fast to protect the stomach and anti-inflammatory treatment is typically not necessary. Normal eating can usually resume after one to two days, and stomach protection might be appropriate for about 2 to 4 weeks, generally without the need for anti-inflammatory medication. Therefore, anti-inflammatory treatment is usually not necessary. The incidence of gastric polyps is increasing, and most patients do not exhibit specific symptoms. These polyps are often discovered incidentally during physical exams or gastroscopic examinations. Typically, gastric polyps are not large; those smaller than 0.5 cm can be observed, while those larger than 1 cm, or those that increase in size or number over time, can be treated endoscopically. Currently, endoscopic treatment of gastric polyps is a safe and effective method. Most of these polyps are benign, with fewer being malignant, so patients need not worry excessively.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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How to control and treat gastric polyps.

The treatment of gastric polyps includes minimally invasive polyp removal via endoscopy and surgical treatment. If the polyp is small and pedunculated, it can be removed by endoscopy. After removal, treatments to suppress stomach acid and protect the stomach lining are administered. If the polyp is large and sessile, making endoscopic removal difficult, surgical intervention may be necessary. After the removal of the polyp, it is routine to conduct pathological tests, and regular follow-up gastroscopies are necessary to confirm whether there is a recurrence of the polyps.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Difference between benign and malignant gastric polyps

Benign polyps and malignant polyps are difficult to distinguish based on symptoms alone, as both may present with symptoms such as bloating, stomach pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. A gastroscope exam is needed to differentiate between them. During a gastroscopy, if the polyp’s surface is smooth, without lobulation, and has a wide base or a sessile form, it is more likely to be benign. If the polyp has a lobulated and uneven surface, bleeds easily upon touch, and is relatively fragile, it is more likely to be malignant. A biopsy is required to determine whether it is benign or malignant.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Do gastric polyps always need to be removed?

Gastric polyps first require a gastroscopy examination, combined with pathological examination to determine the nature of the lesion, because there are many types of gastric polyps, such as hyperplastic polyps, inflammatory polyps, hamartomatous polyps, fundic gland polyps, and adenomatous polyps, etc. After a definitive diagnosis, symptomatic treatment can be applied. Common inflammatory or hyperplastic polyps are related to Helicobacter pylori infection. If they are relatively small, eradication of Helicobacter pylori and regular follow-up can be performed. If the polyps are adenomatous, they generally have a family history, and there is a possibility of malignancy in such cases, generally requiring removal via gastroscopy. Additionally, if the polyp exceeds two centimeters in size, regardless of the type, removal is generally advocated.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Are stomach polyps likely to lead to stomach cancer?

Gastric polyps are precancerous lesions of gastric cancer, posing a significant risk of developing gastric cancer. There are several types of gastric polyps, including fundic gland polyps, hyperplastic polyps, and adenomatous polyps. Adenomatous polyps, in particular, have a higher rate of malignant transformation, with 11% of patients developing gastric cancer through dysplastic growth over four years. Therefore, patients with gastric polyps should undergo early removal under gastroscopy, followed by pathological classification. After treatment, regular gastroscopic examinations are necessary. It is also important to adjust the diet, avoid eating moldy food, and reduce consumption of salty and pickled foods, while increasing intake of fresh foods, fresh green vegetables, and fruits, and maintaining a positive mental attitude.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
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Is APC treatment for gastric polyps painful?

The treatment of gastric polyps is mainly focused on endoscopic procedures, including APC (argon plasma coagulation) treatment, which is quite suitable for gastric polyps. For patients, the APC treatment usually does not involve pain, so there is no sensation or suffering involved. Thus, APC treatment for gastric polyps is relatively appropriate and generally considered safe. The complications to be cautious of are not pain, but rather bleeding, such as gastrointestinal bleeding post-procedure. For gastric polyps, APC treatment may take varying lengths of time; it might be completed in just a few minutes under smooth conditions, but could extend to over ten minutes in some cases. Overall, this is a relatively mature and safe examination method.