What are the symptoms of acute gastric dilatation

The symptoms of acute gastric dilatation are that patients will have a feeling of fullness or pain in the upper abdomen in the early stages of the disease. Some patients will also experience symptoms of thirst, lethargy, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, shock may occur.

1. In the early stage of the disease, the patient feels fullness in the upper abdomen and pain in the upper abdomen or umbilicus. The pain is generally persistent and may worsen in paroxysmal episodes, but is usually not severe. This is followed by vomiting of gastric contents, which is not a large amount. The attacks become frequent and the abdominal distension does not subside despite repeated vomiting. The vomitus is often brown acidic liquid, and the occult blood test is positive. In the early stage of the disease, there may be a small amount of flatulence and defecation, but in the later stage, most patients stop defecation. The patient feels thirsty, listless, and has rapid breathing, and in severe cases may go into shock. If the stomach wall is perforated, severe abdominal pain will occur.

Abdominal examination shows a highly distended abdomen, especially in the upper abdomen. Sometimes an enlarged stomach can be seen, with splashing sounds and weakened or absent bowel sounds.

2. How to differentiate and diagnose acute gastric dilatation

1. Diffuse peritonitis. Although the abdomen may be swollen, there are signs of peritonitis, tenderness and rebound tenderness, and a board-like abdomen. The patient has fever and a significantly increased white blood cell count. However, patients with acute gastric dilatation may also develop acute peritonitis when gastric perforation occurs.

2. Mechanical intestinal obstruction. There is often abdominal colic, which worsens intermittently, and loud bowel sounds can be heard. Abdominal distension is not obvious in the early stages, and the vomitus is intestinal contents. An upright abdominal radiograph showed numerous dilated trapezoidal fluid levels, and the symptoms did not improve after aspiration of gastric contents through a gastric tube.

3. Acute gastritis. Acute gastric dilatation, such as occurring after a full meal, can cause frequent vomiting and upper abdominal pain. However, abdominal distension in acute gastritis is not significant, and it will be relieved after vomiting.