Gastric distension

Gastric distention is the enlargement of the stomach, and can be due to a number of causes.^{[citation needed]}

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]

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

[1] Brunicardi, Charles (2015). Schwartz's Principles of Surgery (10 ed.). McGraw-Hill. pp. ch 26.

[2] Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease (10 ed.). Saunders. 2016. pp. 130–147.

[3] Emergency Medicine (2 ed.). Saunders. 2013. pp. 1660–1663.

[4] Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine (9 ed.). Elsevier. 2017. pp. 31–42.

[5] Abdominal Imaging (2 ed.). Elsevier. 2017. pp. 126–136.

[6] Current Surgical Therapy (12 ed.). Elsevier. 2017. pp. 130–135.

[7] Essentials of Radiology (3 ed.). Saunders. 2014. pp. 115–156.

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