Abdominal Distension
August 18th, 2017
Overview
Abdominal distension is commonly seen in obese patients, however intra-abdominal pathology - fluid, faeces, flatus, or a large mass - may produce enlargement of the abdomen. Pregnancy is also a cause that should not be missed!
Look For
- Enlargement of the abdomen, noting whether the enlargement is generalised or localised.
Causes of Abdominal Distension
- Fat - central obesity
- Faeces - lifestyle, age, obstruction, drugs, endocrine / neurological
- Flatus - irritable bowel syndrome, mechanical or paralytic gut obstruction
- Fluid - ascites, blood, pus, urine, bile, chyle, enteric contents
- Foetus - pregnancy
- Mass - cancer, abscess, abdominal wall fibrosis
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