Thus, abdominal pain should not usually be expected to be a feature, except with abdominal distension due to gas in bowel obstruction. Abdominal swelling or distention is a term used for a number of conditions that cause the abdominal cavity to look bloated or enlarged. Abdominal distension is a symptom as well as a sign. Abdominal distension an overview sciencedirect topics. Apr 06, 2018 a distended stomach is a condition where there is swelling or distension of the abdomen and not actually of the stomach.
Interpretation of the pediatric abdominal radiograph. You may find the wind, gas and bloating article more useful, or one of our other health articles. Clinical assessment will usually indicate the nature of abdominal distension ie whether ascites, gastrointestinal gas, pregnancy, etc but further investigations are often required to determine the precise aetiology. Apr 12, 2019 causes of abdominal distension are related to an increase in intra abdominal volume. Abdominal distention can be a challenging clinical problem. Abdominal distension isnt always painful, but it can be very uncomfortable, and if the condition is caused by something more serious, severe pain wouldnt necessarily be uncommon. Abdominal distention american academy of pediatrics. Bloating can be described as the feeling that there is an inflated balloon in the abdomen. George abdenour discusses abdominal distention in neonates and the normal abdominal radiograph. Abdominal distension is the swelling or enlarging of the abdomen in the area between the ribs and the groin.
Contour, abdominal, and distension, abdominal clinipedia. There are no statistical definitions of distention available to pediatricians. Fever, leukocytosis, acute abdomen, free air on imaging. Abdominal distension, typically a symptom of an underlying disease or dysfunction in the body, rather than an illness in its own right. A man in his 70s with hypotension and increasing abdominal. Dayold newborn with abdominal distension american academy. Rectal examination to determine any obvious enlargement large animals is also helpful. Past medical history was significant for coronary artery disease status post stent placement 5 years prior, systolic heart failure, and colon cancer status after segmental resection 15 years prior.
Aorta problems abdominal aorta are more likely to cause distension in the middle of the abdomen. Distended stomach causes entire abdomen or certain quadrants. In general, the term bloating refers to the subjective sensation of increased abdominal pressure without an increase in abdominal size, whereas distension describes the same subjective sensation but with a corresponding objective increase in abdominal girth. Clear pathophysiologic explanations have been lacking. Gastric distension reflexively inhibits duodenal motility. Abdominal distension in a middleaged woman oncology jama. Functional abdominal bloating with distention ncbi. Abdominal bloating is a very common symptom that affects 1030% of people. Background a sensation of abdominal bloating, sometimes accompanied by an increase in girth distension, is one of the most common and most intrusive features of functional bowel disorders aim to conduct a systematic, evidence. Between these episodes, she states that he normally has nonbloody, hard stools accompanied by straining and chronic abdominal pain and pain with defecation. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. It is typically a symptom of an underlying disease or dysfunction in the body, rather than an illness in its own right.
Causes of abdominal distension are related to an increase in intraabdominal volume. Distension media in hysteroscopy dr mandeep bhandal 2. The patient was taking nutritional supplements but no prescription medications. Feb 26, 2019 abdominal distension is a manifestation of functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome ibs, and is characterized by an increase in abdominal pressure together with a. Management strategies for abdominal bloating and distension ncbi. Parker, 1959, abdominal distension was among the first symptoms experienced by most patients. The patient had been experiencing early satiety and heat intolerance. For the remaining 6 cases with abdominal distension, abdominal xray showed free air under the diaphragm. Jan 25, 2019 professional reference articles are designed for health professionals to use. So if there is distension, it may be unilateral or bilateral.
The classic physical examination findings of abdominal distension, tympany to percussion, and highpitched bowel sounds suggest the diagnosis. Feb 01, 2017 a preterm infant presents with loose stools, abdominal distention, progressive lethargy, rapid deterioration, and cutaneous abdominal blood vessel findings. A distended stomach is a condition where there is swelling or distension of the abdomen and not actually of the stomach. Abdominal distension is symptom of a wide variety of mild to serious diseases, disorders and conditions. Functional abdominal bloating is a subjective sensation that is commonly associated with an objective abdominal distension. Treatment for distended stomach includes making dietary changes and medications. The symptom refers to the feeling of fullness, bloating, swelling. On further questioning, his mother reveals that he has had 2 similar episodes of abdominal distension and diarrhea during the past 6 to 7 years. Some may have to loosen their clothes or see distension of their abdomen along with the sensation of bloating, while others feel uncomfortably full but it does not show. Sep 01, 2014 a 1dayold newborn presents with abdominal distension figure 1. Complete this lesson to find out more about the many conditions that can cause distention, what. In in vitro preparations consisting of the stomach and duodenum connected by periarterial nerves to the celiac plexus in the guinea pig, gastric distension inhibited propulsive. Mar 16, 2019 functional abdominal bloating is a subjective sensation that is commonly associated with an objective abdominal distension.
At 6 hours after birth, the infant developed abdominal distension and had two episodes of projectile vomiting. Distension spelled distention in many style regimens generally refers to an enlargement, dilation, or ballooning effect. Abdominal distension occurs when substances, such as air gas or fluid, accumulate in the abdomen causing its outward expansion beyond the normal girth of the stomach and waist. This is the area immediately behind and around the. Clinical signs, when observed, include hunched posture, facial grimacing indicative of abdominal pain, and abdominal distension. All of our patients had abdominal pain that was dull, nagging, and chronic. In the large collected series mitchell et al, 1982. Careful history taking and abdominal examination are essential. Gross findings at necropsy are marked abdominal distension and gastric dilatation without volvulus figure 4.
Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric benign pneumoperitoneum. The act of distending or the state of being distended. Distention definition of distention by the free dictionary. Abdominal distension can result from infection, malignancy, inflammation, trauma, fluid retention, obstruction and other abnormal. Fabd may be diagnosed as a single entity the sole or cardinal complaint or may overlap with other functional gastrointestinal disorders such as functional constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and functional dyspepsia. Distension media in hysteroscopy linkedin slideshare. The causes of localized distension may differ depending on the location one of the four abdominal quadrants. Abdominal distension is a manifestation of functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome ibs, and is characterized by an. Apr 26, 2020 abdominal distension isnt always painful, but it can be very uncomfortable, and if the condition is caused by something more serious, severe pain wouldnt necessarily be uncommon. They are written by uk doctors and based on research evidence, uk and european guidelines.
What causes abdominal swelling abdominal distension. If the aneurysm ruptures then blood may accumulate within the abdomen internal bleeding thereby causing generalized distension. Observation of the abdominal symmetry allover the abdomen. Patients often cant describe exactly what it means and may use a lot of different terms for it. A man in his 70s was brought to the emergency room by his family for 2 days of altered mental status. The majority of cases involve the stomach or the digestive. Localized distension means that the enlargement is more prominent in one part of the abdomen. Whorwell, md, comment on the relationship between bloating and distension and explore potential mechanisms underlying. Bloating and distension may produce significant distress. He was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit nicu for further evaluation. Gastric distension an overview sciencedirect topics. Abdominal distension caused by ascites occurs at some time in almost every patient with bcs. Gastrointestinal perforation was initially considered.
Distension definition is the act of distending or the state of being distended especially unduly or abnormally. Abdominal distension occurs when substances, such as air gas or fluid, accumulate in the abdomen causing its expansion. People suffering from this condition often describe it as feeling bloated. It is always better to use the patients own words in the history, so if the patient says fullness, the symptom should be described as fullness. Abdominal distension in a middleaged woman oncology. Abdominal distension occurs when substances, such as air gas or fluid, accumulate in the. Evaluation and mangement of intestinal obstruction american. Abdominal distension causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment. The duration of abdominal distension and its association with abdominal pain are key questions. Shortchain fatty acids interact with specific free fatty acid receptors ffa1. Abdominal distension due to herpes zoster article pdf available in medicina 621. Acute pancreatitis with abdominal bloating and distension. Distension definition of distension by merriamwebster.
Management strategies for abdominal bloating and distension. Bloating, distension, and the irritable bowel syndrome. Distension definition of distension by medical dictionary. Abdominal distention is caused by a buildup of fluids or gas in the abdominal section of the body. Abdominal distension also occurs in individuals with lactose intolerance, bacterial food poisoning, parasitic infections like giardia, bacteria like helicobacter pylori h. A preterm infant presents with loose stools, abdominal distention, progressive lethargy, rapid deterioration, and cutaneous abdominal blood vessel findings. Physical examination was significant for orthostatic hypotension and an immobile. Abdominal distension may be generalised, or may be localised to a discrete mass. Smallintestinal water content smallintestinal distension is also a potential cause. Krishna 45yrs presented with abdominal distension, colicky pain, and vomiting. Bloating and distension together with eructation, aerophagia and flatulence, have been attributed to excessive intestinal gas accumulation. Visible, measurable, uncomfortable distention of the abdomen.
Abdominal distension fatal tumor hepatosplenomegaly ovarian uterine mass fetus other malignancies fat fibroids bladder hydronephrosis cysts flatus free ascites bowel dilatation feces other transudate high saag 11gl 97% due to portal hypertension cirrhosis 80%, alcoholic hepatitis, buddchiari. Abdominal distension symptoms, diagnosis, treatments and. The pathophysiological mechanisms associated with abdominal bloating and distension are poorly understood. Uterine distention mediumuterine cavity a potential spaceminimum pressure 30 mmhg to separate uterine walls 4580 mmhg to expand uterine cavity, rarely 100 mmhgmap 100 mmhg 3. Distention definition of distention by medical dictionary.
A 1dayold newborn presents with abdominal distension figure 1. In patients who have constipation and bloating, abnormal balloon expulsion is correlated with abdominal distension. Shortchain fatty acids interact with specific free fatty acid receptors. Abdominal distension nute, megan, cpnpac journal of pediatric surgical nursing. Gastric distension, bloating of the stomach when air is pumped into it, as in a medical procedure. It is a commonly reported symptom and is sometimes associated with distension, or the visible increase in the width of the area between your hips and chest abdominal girth. Preterm infant with abdominal distention, rapid deterioration. Topics include masses, bowel distention, functional disorders, ischemia and intestinal obstruction. Free intraperitoneal air secondary to bowel perforation. A white woman in her late 40s presented to her primary care physician for her routine annual checkup and was noted to have abdominal distention.