Abdominal Distension, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Abdominal Distension, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases such as Flatulence and Belching

An abdomen may be distended by many things such as fat, flatus, feces, fetus and fluid but it invariably causes a lot of tightness in the abdomen and discomfort.

The term "abdominal distension" is meant for an actual rise in abdominal girth while the term "abdominal bloating" should be used to depict the feeling of the distension by the patient.

It is important to understand that the 2 phenomena may not be exactly the same.

It is natural to have intestinal gas, and to pass gas by the rectum (flatus) is very frequent.

Flatulence happens in the average person about 20 times a day.

The volume within the normal range (in studies that have looked at this) is anywhere from 200 cc to 2000 cc of rectal flatus.

Farts travel an average of 10 feet (3 meters) per second, or nearly 7 miles per hour

Belching, also called burping (medically referred to as eructation), is the action of expelling gas from the stomach out through the mouth.

The normal cause of belching is a distended (inflated) stomach produced by swallowed air.

The distension of the stomach produces abdominal discomfort, and the belching expels the air and alleviates the discomfort.

Abdominal distension can be generalized, or may be localized to a distinct mass or enlargement of an organ.

Abdominal distension may occasionally happen in apparently healthy people, but are much more frequent in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Abdominal bloating happens when the abdomen feels full and tight due to filling with air or gas.

When the patient is distended, the patient feels as if he or she has eaten a big meal and there is no room in the abdomen.

The abdomen may be uncomfortable or painful.

The abdomen may really appear bigger.

It can induce the clothes to fit tighter.

Most people depict bloating as feeling full, tight, or swollen in the abdomen.

The abdomen may also be swollen (distended), hard, and painful.

Abdominal distension is a frequent and objective sickness which can involve patients of all ages

The main causes of generalized abdominal distension are:
1. Fat (obesity)
2. Feces (constipation)
3. Fetus (pregnancy)
4. Flatus (gastrointestinal)
5. Fluid (ascites)

The most frequent causes are:
1. Obesity
2. Pregnancy
3. Irritable bowel syndrome
4. Constipation
5. Fibroids
6. Enlarged bladder

Abdominal distension is often accompanied by:
1. Pain
2. Excessive gas (flatulence)
3. Frequent burping or belching
4. Abdominal rumbling or gurgles

Abdominal distension can disrupt the ability to work and take part in social or recreational activities.

People who have abdominal distension use more sick days, visit the doctor more frequently, and take more medicines than other people.

Investigations

1. FBC: raised white cell count in infection or malignancy, anemia with abnormal vaginal bleeding as a result of malignancy.

2. U&Es: renal dysfunction; hypokalemia or uremia may cause non-mechanical bowel obstruction.

3. LFTs: liver failure, cholestatic hyperbilirubinemia with carcinoma of pancreas, hypoalbuminemia linked with ascites

4. Urinalysis: may show hematuria in tumors of kidney or bladder

5. Pregnancy test

6. Abdominal X-ray, barium enema: constipation, large bowel pathology, bowel obstruction

7. Abdominal ultrasound

8. Sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy

The treatment of abdominal distension is dependent on the diagnosis of the underlying cause.

The best way to alleviate and even avoid symptoms of abdominal bloating and gas, is a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Rifaximin can reduce gas production

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Abdominal Distension
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Flatulence
Chapter 8 Belching
Epilogue