|
ABDOMINAL DISTENSION |
|
nonmechanical obstruction: |
|
|
vascular insufficiency: |
thrombosis embolism |
|
retroperitoneal irritation: |
renal colic neoplasm infection |
|
extra-abdominal infection: |
sepsis pneumonia empyema spinal osteomyelitis |
|
metabolic / toxic: |
hypokalaemia uraemia lead poisoning |
|
chemical irritation: |
perforated peptic ulcer pancreatitis biliary peritonitis |
|
other / miscellaneous: |
excessive intraluminal gas intra-abdominal infection trauma mechanical ventilation other causes of peritoneal inflammation severe pain and NSAIDs |
|
mechanical obstruction: |
||
|
neoplasms: |
intraluminal extraluminal |
|
|
infections: |
diverticulitis intra-abdominal abscess parasitic infections |
|
|
foreign bodies: |
bezoar ingested foreign body |
|
|
other / miscellaneous: |
adhesions endometriosis pregnancy strangulated hernia volvulus intussusception gallstones faecalith / meconium ileus haematoma pneumatosis intestinalis (pneumatosis coli) superior mesenteric artery syndrome annular pancreas Hirschsprung's disease |
|
|
stenosis: |
radiation surgical anastamosis site Crohn's disease tuberculous |
|
|
non-obstructive causes (of abdominal distension): |
|
ascites abdominal or pelvis masses, eg. hepatoma, ovarian tumour intra-abdominal bleeding, eg. ruptured aortic aneurysm obesity pregnancy |
click here to return to the main contents page of Differential Diagnoses in General Medicine