Abdominal distension: what is and what possible causes

Former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) presented a “ abdominal distension and pain ”on the morning of Friday (11) and needed to be admitted to the Rio Grande Hospital in Rio Grande do Norte. According to a statement, doctors analyze the need for surgery. Understand meaning and possible causes of the picture.

Abdominal distension is characterized as a swelling in the belly, which can be visible or not, and sometimes caused by the accumulation of gases or poor digestion, or more severe causes.

The picture can be presented in two occurrences. It can be acute – suddenly and unusual – or chronic – something that occurs and resolves repeatedly.

What is abdominal distension

Accordingly with Cleveland ClinicReference clinic in the United States, abdominal distension is one of the most commonly reported gastrointestinal symptoms and may be even more recurrent among people diagnosed with other functional gastrointestinal disorders, including functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (SII) and functional constipation.

What are the possible causes?

A distended abdomen can be caused by an organic or functional problem. Among the organic, for example, are more serious causes such as intra-abdominal hemorrhage and partial stomach paralysis. Pregnancy, menstruation and recent weight gain are also among the most common.

Functional ones are commonly caused by digestive problems that cause gases and/or digestive content accumulation such as functional indigestion gases and urinary retention.

Organic causes

• Significant recent weight gain, which tends to be stored as intra-abdominal fat;
• Intestine obstruction slender or thick;
• Partial stomach paralysis, which causes accumulation of digestive content;
• Gastrointestinal diseases, which cause gases and swelling, including bacterial superconnection of the small intestine (SIBO), celiac disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (IPE) and inflammatory intestinal diseases (IHD);
• Abdominal coating inflammation;
• Accumulation of liquid in the abdomen caused by liver disease;
• Increased organ due to inflammation or growth;
• Internal bleeding;
• Pregnancy;
• Menstruation.

Functional causes

• Functional indigestion gases, food intolerances or irritable bowel syndrome (SII);
• Constipation that causes accumulation of feces and reflux of digestive content;
• Urinary retention causing urine accumulation;
• A disorder of muscle contractions involved in digestion, causing reflux of digestive content;
• Weakness of the abdominal muscles, which causes abdominal content to be flabby out and down.

Treatment

When seeking medical attention in this case, the health professional will try to isolate the cause to locate where the abdominal distension occurred and eliminate some of these causes. This is because, the treatment may vary according to each framework presented by the patient.

In the case of former President Bolsonaro, for example, doctors evaluate that at this first moment there is no need for surgery. However, depending on the outcome of exams, it may eventually be removed to other specialized centers.

According to Mayo Clinic expertsReference Clinic of the United States, the location of distension – whether widespread or concentrated in a specific region – may indicate which organs are involved. Physical evaluation includes palpation of the abdomen and percussion (light beating in the region) to identify the presence of fluids, gases or solid masses.

The internal abdomen organs are classified as solids or hollows. Among the solids are the liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries and uterus. These may increase in size due to inflammation, tumors, cysts or abscesses. In some cases, it is possible to feel these increases by touch, but confirmation usually requires image exams.

Already the hollow organs – such as the stomach, intestines, bladder, gallbladder, bile ducts, fallopian tubes and uterus – are usually palpable only when they are distended. This can occur due to accumulation of gases, digestive liquids, feces, urine or, in the case of the uterus, due to pregnancy. Inflammation and other conditions can also cause this type of distension.

Faced with any persistent sign of abdominal distension, the recommendation is to seek medical attention. The sooner the cause is identified, the greater the chances of effective treatment.

Bolsonaro hospitalization

Bolsonaro is hospitalized “with stable vital parameters, receiving venous hydration, antibacterial prophylaxis and performing complementary laboratory tests,” adds the medical report.

The statement also points out that the former president “is clinically oriented and painless after analgesia, and depending on the results of image exams, will be discussed, in common agreement with the family, the need for eventual removal to other specialized centers.”

Jair Bolsonaro is under the care of the coordination of doctors Hélio Barreto, Álvaro Barros and Marcelo Cascudo, as well as the medical direction of Luiz Roberto Fonseca.

Bolsonaro is without pain and has no indication of surgery, says doctor | CNN Backstage

This content was originally published in abdominal distension: what is and what possible causes on the CNN Brazil website.

Source: CNN Brasil