iprs000050 10.3205/iprs000050 urn:nbn:de:0183-iprs0000502 Case Report Ausgeprägte Magen-Dilatation durch Essattacke erfordert chirurgische Intervention: eine Fallbeschreibung Lemke Lemke Johannes J

Clinic of General and Visceral Surgery, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, GermanyClinic of General and Visceral Surgery, University of Ulm, Germany

author Scheele Scheele Jan J

Clinic of General and Visceral Surgery, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, GermanyClinic of General and Visceral Surgery, University of Ulm, Germany

author Schmidt Schmidt Stefan S

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, GermanyDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Ulm, Germany

author Wittau Wittau Mathias M

Clinic of General and Visceral Surgery, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, GermanyClinic of General and Visceral Surgery, University of Ulm, Germany

author Henne-Bruns Henne-Bruns Doris D Prof. MD

Clinic of General and Visceral Surgery, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany, Phone: 0049 (0) 731 500 53501, Fax: 0049 (0) 731 500 53503Clinic of General and Visceral Surgery, University of Ulm, Germany

doris.henne-bruns@uniklinik-ulm.de author German Medical Science GMS Publishing House

Düsseldorf

610 surgery acute abdomen eating disorder eating binge gastric dilatation Chirurgie akutes Abdomen Essstörung Essattacken Magen-Dilatation 20141103 engl 2193-8091 3 GMS Interdisciplinary Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery DGPW GMS Interdiscip Plast Reconstr Surg DGPW 09 Das akute Abdomen ist ein Krankheitsbild, welches regelmäßig in der Notfallmedizin anzutreffen ist. In den meisten Fällen sind intra-abdominelle Pathologien ursächlich, jedoch können sich auch extra-abdominelle Krankheiten als akutes Abdomen manifestieren oder dieses hervorrufen. Da das akute Abdomen immer potentiell lebensbedrohlich ist, ist das sofortige Handeln von großer Wichtigkeit. Hier berichten wir von einer jungen Frau, die sich mit dem Bild eines akuten Abdomens in unserer Klinik vorstellte. Die Bildgebung zeigte einen massiv dilatierten Magen, der bis in das kleine Becken reichten. Die Ursache hierfür blieb zunächst unklar. Notfallmäßig erfolgte eine explorative Laparotomie, in der über eine Gastrotomie große Mengen verbackener, unverdauter Speisereste geborgen wurden. Postoperativ konnte in der Anamnese durch einen hinzugezogenen Psychiater eine Essstörung mit täglichen Essattacken als Ursache für den massiv dilatierten Magen diagnostiziert werden. Die Patientin erholte sich schnell von dem Eingriff und konnte in gutem Allgemeinzustand und mit einer psychiatrischen Weiterbetreuung entlassen werden. Dieser ungewöhnliche Fall zeigt, wie eine psychiatrische Grunderkrankung ein akutes Abdomen verursachen kann. Weiter macht es deutlich, dass ein schnelles Handeln für die richtige Diagnosestellung und adäquate Therapie von Wichtigkeit ist, um Komplikation zu vermeiden und eine vollständige Genesung zu ermöglichen. The clinical picture of an acute abdomen is frequently encountered in emergency medicine. In most cases abdominal pathologies underlie this condition, however, also extra-abdominal diseases may present or cause an acute abdomen. The fact that this condition is potentially life-threatening highlights the importance of instant action. Here, we report on the case of a young woman that presented with an acute abdomen in our clinic. Imaging revealed a massively distended stomach reaching the lesser pelvis. Initially, the etiology for the gastric dilatation remained unsolved. On the same day we performed an explorative laparotomy in which massive amounts of clotted, undigested food was recovered via a gastrotomy. Postoperatively, upon psychiatric consultation, an eating disorder with daily eating binges could be revealed as being the cause for the acute and dramatic gastric dilatation. The patient fully recovered from surgery and psychiatric co-treatment was initiated. This unique case report demonstrates how a psychiatric condition may lead to an acute abdomen, however, it also emphasizes the importance of prompt diagnosis and adequate therapy to avoid complications and allowing for full recovery. IntroductionThe acute abdomen is a clinical picture which is commonly encountered in emergency units . It is characterized by acute and mostly intense abdominal pain accompanied by peritonism and potentially meteorism, nausea, vomiting and in severe and advanced cases shock. In most cases abdominal pathologies cause this acute condition including – but not limited to – appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, mesenteric ischemia, ileus and perforations of hollow organs , . However, also extra-abdominal diseases can present with symptoms of an acute abdomen such as testicular torsion, myocardial infarction or diabetic ketoacidosis . Due to the fact that an acute abdomen is always potentially life-threatening, prompt action is required to obtain the diagnosis and to immediately initiate adequate therapy . Diagnostically, in addition to clinical examination and analysis of serum parameters, imaging such as sonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are foremost in leading to the correct diagnosis . However, as mentioned above, the causes for acute abdominal symptoms are versatile and at times are found in medical areas other than gastroenterology itself. In this study we report on an interesting and unique case in which a psychiatric condition was the underlying disease leading to an acute abdominal picture which required immediate surgical intervention. Case descriptionA 28-year-old woman presented in our surgical emergency unit with a sudden onset of progressive abdominal discomfort and pain. Anamnestically, the patient denied any preexisting conditions or previously performed surgeries. The patient was not under any long-term medication. Physical examination revealed a distended and meteoritic abdomen with signs of peritonism. Routine laboratory analysis did not show any pathologies, including normal hemoglobin, leucocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as serum electrolytes. Because of the acute and dramatic clinical presentation we immediately performed a computed tomography of the abdomen. This revealed a massively distended stomach with a cranio-caudal extension of 35 cm reaching the lesser pelvis, however, without evidence for perforation (Figure 1 ). Initially, the cause for the distention remained elusive. The patients was admitted to our intensive care unit. A stomach tube was placed, which, however, did not drain any significant amount of stomach content. We therefore decided on an emergency explorative laparotomy on the same day. Intraoperatively, in addition to the massively dilatated stomach no abnormalities were detected. We performed a gastrotomy of the gastric antrum and recovered (over the period of one hour) a large amount of cementitiously clotted and undigested food scraps from the stomach. Subsequently, the stomach was closed by sutures and an intraabdominal drainage was placed. An intraoperative performed gastroscopy did not reveal any stenosis or other pathologies. The postoperative course was without complication. The stomach tube as well as the intrabdominal drainage could be removed within the first days after surgery. A gradual reintroduction of liquids was well tolerated. On the sixth postoperative day we performed a radiological imaging of the stomach using contrast medium which revealed a re-tonised stomach of a normal size without evidence for any stenosis (Figure 2 ). Subsequently, the patient was allowed to normal food intake, which was well tolerated as well. The postoperatively initiated evaluation of the patient by a psychiatrist revealed that she had been suffering from an eating disorder since her childhood. This was initially characterized by an anorectic behavior with starvation und excessive exercising. Temporarily, her body mass index (BMI) had dropped to 11 kg/m². At consultation in our clinic her BMI was in the lower normal range. However, the patient reported on daily binge eatings caused by conflicts at her workplace. This had also occurred on the day of hospital admission, however on this day, the routinely self-induced vomiting after the binge attack failed. In a good status of health the patient could be dismissed from our clinic on the 13th postoperative day. The psychiatric co-treatment therapy was continued. DiscussionHere, we report on an unusual case in which a binge attack in a young woman suffering from an eating disorder caused a massive dilatation of her stomach. This dilation was not reversible either by self-induced vomiting or by drainage using a stomach tube. Therefore, immediate surgical treatment was required. Some other authors have reported on cases in which eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa lead to acute gastric dilatation , , , . In line with the higher incidence of eating disorder in young females, mostly women in the age between 14 and 30 years were affected. In some cases, the so-called superior mesenteric artery syndrome has been suggested to cause or at least promote gastric dilatation in patients with eating disorders , . For this syndrome it has been proposed that malnutrition leads to the shrinkage of a fad pad localized between the aorta and outlet of the superior mesenteric artery. This, in turn, may cause compression of the duodenum thereby promoting gastric dilatation, in particular in cases when eating binges occur. In the reported case of this study, immediate imaging revealed the diagnosis and emergency explorative laparotomy and gastrotomy allowed for full recovery of the patient without complications or any residuals. This prompt and direct action including emergency laparotomy appears to be justified and essential, given the fact that some authors have reported severe complications such as gastric perforation and/or necrosis in patients with similar conditions , . Furthermore, in some cases extended surgical approaches such as partial gastrectomy or even gastric resection were required. The fact that some patients did not recover and, unfortunately, passed away, confirms the severity of this condition as well as the importance of adequate diagnosis and immediate (surgical) therapy. NotesCompeting interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests. 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1 1 Figure 1: Computed tomography of the abdomen revealing a massively distended stomachUpon admission of the young woman presenting with the clinical picture of an acute abdomen, we performed a computed tomography of the abdomen. This revealed a massively distended stomach reaching the lesser pelvis.

2 2 Figure 2: Postoperative imaging of the gastro-intestinal passagePostoperatively, we performed an X-ray series of the stomach upon application of contrast medium. This revealed a re-tonised, normal-sized stomach without evidence for stenosis.

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