Helicobacter pylori infections - are these diseases relevant for surgical treatment?

Helicobacter pylori infection and its strong association with gastroduodena l diseases has revolutionized our views and treatment options in these dise ases. Surgery has always been considered a mainstay in their treatment. The development of potent eradication regimes has changed indications for oper ative treatment. With endoscopic procedures being increasingly performed by the surgeon himself, it has become necessary that he educate himself in th e diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori infection in order to be able to cop e with these diseases in every day surgical practice. Treatment of H. pylor i infection may not only be seen as an alternative to operative therapy, bu t also as an adjunct following surgical treatment of gastroduodenal disease .