Gastric distension

{{Short description|Enlargement of the stomach}}

Gastric distention is the enlargement of the stomach, and can be due to a number of causes.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

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.{{cite book |last1=Brunicardi |first1=Charles |title=Schwartz's Principles of Surgery |date=2015 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |pages=ch 26 |edition=10}} Distension of the stomach also stimulates the secretion of ghrelin.{{cite book |title=Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease |date=2016 |publisher=Saunders |pages=130–147 |edition=10}}

Other causes include:

• binge eating associated with bulimia nervosa{{cite book |title=Emergency Medicine |date=2013 |publisher=Saunders |pages=1660–1663 |edition=2}}
• tumors causing obstruction{{cite book |title=Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine |date=2017 |publisher=Elsevier |pages=31–42 |edition=9}}
• diabetic neuropathy
• scarring due to pyloric gastritis{{cite book |title=Abdominal Imaging |date=2017 |publisher=Elsevier |pages=126–136 |edition=2}}
• delayed gastric emptying{{cite book |title=Current Surgical Therapy |date=2017 |publisher=Elsevier |pages=130–135 |edition=12}}

To identify the cause of gastric distention, an upper endoscopy or barium upper GI imaging should be done.{{cite book |title=Essentials of Radiology |date=2014 |publisher=Saunders |pages=115–156 |edition=3}}