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Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
Medknow Publications and Staff Society of Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India
ISSN: 0022-3859 EISSN: 0972-2823
Vol. 54, Num. 2, 2008, pp. 149-149
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Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, Vol. 54, No. 2, April-June, 2008, pp. 149
Images In Radiology
Massive gastric distension from excessive food ingestion
Kajiya T, Shiki K, Asano T, Omori K, Natsume Y, Sakurai S, Tei C
Department of General Internal Medicine, Oshima Medical Association Hospital, Kagoshima
Correspondence Address:Department of General Internal Medicine, Oshima Medical Association Hospital, Kagoshima
kajiya@fij.co.jp
Code Number: jp08050
A 47-year-old man with a history of traumatic acute subdural hematoma as well as atypical psychosis was cared for in a nursing home. His sister, who was treated for schizophrenia at a psychiatry clinic, visited him at the home, giving him food and drink including about 1.5kg of rice, 1kg of sweet potatoes, two packages of snacks and two liters of soft drinks. Two hours later he began to vomit and complained of abdominal pain. Upon hospitalization, abdominal radiography disclosed massive gastric distension [Figure - 1]. Computed tomography showed no sign of bowel obstruction. After treatment with an ileus tube and intravenous fluids for 1month his stomach had shrunk to a normal size. Patients who have a history of psychiatric disease may ingest incredible amounts of food, leading to massive gastric distention. [1] There are many underlying diseases which are known to cause gastric distention, such as tumors and ileus. However, gastric distention due to food itself is uncommon. The gastric capacity of bulimic patients is larger than that of normal people. [2] However, when the amount of food ingested exceeds gastric capacity, it could be lethal. [3] Conservative therapy may be acceptable, but such patients should be monitored carefully and should remain hospitalized.
References
| 1. | Czarnecki CA, O'Coclain DF. Severe abdominal pain in a girl. N Engl J Med 2002;347:e3. Back to cited text no. 1 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 2. | Geliebter A, Hashim SA. Gastric capacity in normal, obese and bulimic woman. Physiol Behav 2001;74:743-6. Back to cited text no. 2 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 3. | Ikegaya H, Nakajima M, Shintani-Ishida K, Uemura K, Yoshida K. Death due to duodenal obstruction in a patient with an eating disorder. Int J Eat Disord 2006;39:350-2. Back to cited text no. 3 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
Copyright 2008 - Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
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