ulcer

a disintegration of the surface of the skin or a mucous membrane resulting in an open sore that heals very slowly

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

ulcer

[′əl·sər]

(medicine)

Localized interruption of the continuity of an epithelial surface, with an inflamed base.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Ulcer

a defect in the skin or mucous membrane resulting from tissue necrosis. Ulcers are frequently chronic in course and nonhealing, for example, trophic ulcers of the skin. They may be caused by prolonged mechanical (friction, pressure), thermal, chemical, and other actions on tissues, as well as by trophic disturbances of the nervous system, specific and nonspecific infections (tuberculosis, syphilis, leprosy, typhoid), and decomposition of a tumor. The development of an ulcer may also be fostered by metabolic disorders (for example, diabetes mellitus), chronic poisoning, vitamin deficiency, endocrinous disturbances, and exhaustion.

Ulcers vary in shape (round, oval, stellate), depth, and size. The base of an ulcer may be covered by granulations, a purulent deposit, or necrotic tissue. Deeply penetrating ulcers are dangerous because they destroy the walls of blood vessels and cause hemorrhages. If the course of the disease is favorable, the regenerative process is dominant and scarring occurs; however, recurrences are possible.

Treatment is directed toward curing the main disease. Physical therapy and any one of a variety of topical ointments and dressings may be prescribed. Surgery is required in refractory cases.

R. B. KAVTELADZE

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References in periodicals archive

The colonization and time of colonization onset were not associated with different stress ulcer prophylaxis (p=0.6 and p=0.07, respectively) (Fig.

STRESS ULCER PROPHYLAXIS AS A RISK FACTOR FOR TRACHEAL COLONIZATION AND HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA IN INTENSIVE CARE PATIENTS: IMPACT ON LATENCY TIME FOR PNEUMONIA

Alternative to PPI's Sucralfate is widely a cytoprotective agent and has been listed as an acceptable prophylaxis for stress ulcer by practice guidelines with the caveat of slightly higher rate of clinically signicant gastric bleeding compared with H2 antagonists9,10.

SPECTRUM OF CULTURE POSITIVE HOSPITAL ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA IN PATIENTS RECEIVING PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS

Guidelines for stress ulcer prophylaxis by The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP, 1999) do not recommend prophylaxis in patients at low risk for bleeding, such as the adult general medical and surgical patients with fewer than two risk factors.

The association between proton pump inhibitors and Clostridium difficile infection: reducing risk

90-100% 6 12% [4.97, 25.00] 60-89% 20 40% [26.73, 54.80] 30-59% 18 36% [23.28, 50.86] Less than 30% 6 12% [4.97, 25.00] Most common indication for prescribing acid suppressing drugs Acute gastritis 25 50% [35.72, 64.28] Stress ulcer prophylaxis 11 22% [11.99, 36.33] Along with NSAIDs 10 10% [10.50, 34.14] Others 4 8% [2.59, 20.11] Acid suppressing drug preferably prescribed PPI 46 92% [79.89, 97.41] [H.sub.2] receptor blocker 2 4% [0.70,14.86] Others 2 4% [0.70,14.86] Do you read the package insert of the acid suppressing drug before prescribing?

Attitude and knowledge of Indian emergency care residents towards use of proton pump inhibitors

Stress ulcers differ from ordinary peptic ulcers in risk factors and symptoms.

Pharmacological correction of stress-induced gastric ulceration by novel small-molecule agents with antioxidant profile

Care processes with the highest correlations (>0.80)--nutrition, weaning off ventilation, deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, stress ulcer prophylaxis, BSL recording and management, and bowel activity--may also have good 'face validity' with experts (i.e.

Validating a process-of-care checklist for intensive care units

Finally, there is no consensus, in literature, over the discontinuation of stress ulcer prophylaxis.

Gastrointestinal bleeding in spinal injuries patient: is prophylaxis essential?

On the contrary, while stress ulcer models closely reflect the realities of the stressful human situation, chronic acetic ulcers often penetrate into the underlying gastric muscle layers and offer the opportunity to monitor the healing effects of new products on well-established gastric ulcer craters.

Antioxidant capacity, cytoprotection, and healing actions of the leaf aqueous extract of Ocimum suave in rats subjected to chronic and cold-restraint stress ulcers

While the authors did an impressive job of highlighting the evidence on this issue, they missed an opportunity to stress the overuse of AST for stress ulcer prophylaxis--especially in the non-ICU setting.

Stress ulcer prophylaxis: overuse is understated

We targeted disease management, process changes and the development of a nursing-focused approach to care, including daily multidisciplinary rounding, utilization of a "daily goals checklist," VTE and stress ulcer prophylaxis, implementation of the "Surviving Sepsis Campaign," an improved critical care triage system, evidence-based infection control initiatives, glycemic control, P & P's written for patient safety and an electronic medical alert for non-critical care patients developing sepsis.

Datascope excellence in nurse-physician collaboration award

Internal bleeding from a stress ulcer was detected and his family, including son Albert, who still lives in Newcastle, feared the worst.

Why I filmed my dying father