Gastric distension explained

Gastric distention is the enlargement of the stomach, and can be due to a number of causes.

Physiologic (normal) gastric distension occurs when eating. Distension of the upper stomach stimulates the secretion of stomach acid, while distension of the lower stomach stimulates gastrin secretion.^[1] Distension of the stomach also stimulates the secretion of ghrelin.^[2]

Other causes include:

• binge eating associated with bulimia nervosa^[3]
• tumors causing obstruction^[4]
• diabetic neuropathy
• scarring due to pyloric gastritis^[5]
• delayed gastric emptying^[6]

To identify the cause of gastric distention, an upper endoscopy or barium upper GI imaging should be done.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Book: Brunicardi . Charles . Schwartz's Principles of Surgery . 2015 . McGraw-Hill . ch 26 . 10.
2. Book: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease . 2016 . Saunders . 130–147 . 10.
3. Book: Emergency Medicine . 2013 . Saunders . 1660–1663 . 2.
4. Book: Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine . 2017 . Elsevier . 31–42 . 9.
5. Book: Abdominal Imaging . 2017 . Elsevier . 126–136 . 2.
6. Book: Current Surgical Therapy . 2017 . Elsevier . 130–135 . 12.
7. Book: Essentials of Radiology . 2014 . Saunders . 115–156 . 3.