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Abdominal distension causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Abdominal distension (or “distended abdomen”) can be a sign of many conditions affecting many organ systems. [1] [2]

Causes

Common Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular

Abdominal aneurysm, congestive heart failure, heart failure

Chemical / poisoning No underlying causes
Congenital

Congenital hepatic porphyria, congenital megacolon, congenital short bowel, congenital tuberculosis, hirschsprung’s disease, Jirásek-Zuelzer-Wilson syndrome, meconium plug syndrome

Dermatologic No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect

Beractant, Caspofungin acetate, dexamethasone, febuxostat, Hydrocortisone, ibuprofen lysine, indinavir, pramipexole, rifaximin, atropine

Ear Nose Throat No underlying causes
Endocrine

Hypothyroidism, Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome OHSS

Environmental No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic

Abdominal abscess, acute appendicitis, ascites, biliary Atresia, cirrhosis, colonic volvulus, constipation, diverticulitis, idiopathic sclerosing mesenteritis, ileus, large bowel obstruction, necrotizing enterocolitis, pancreatitis and complications (pseudocyst), peritoneal bleeding, peritonitis

Genetic

Polycystic liver disease

Hematologic

Acanthocytosis

Iatrogenic

Blind loop syndrome, colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie’s Syndrome)

Infectious Disease

Helminthiasis, toxic megacolon

Musculoskeletal / Ortho No underlying causes
Neurologic No underlying causes
Nutritional / Metabolic

Acute intermittent porphyria, hepatorenal tyrosinemia, lactose intolerance, overeating

Obstetric/Gynecologic

Ovarian cancer, pregnancy

Oncologic

Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary, leukemia, lymphoma

Opthalmologic No underlying causes
Overdose / Toxicity No underlying causes
Psychiatric No underlying causes
Pulmonary No underlying causes
Renal / Electrolyte

Nephrotic syndrome

Rheum / Immune / Allergy No underlying causes
Sexual No underlying causes
Trauma

Abdominal trauma with intra-abdominal bleeding

Urologic No underlying causes
Miscellaneous

Air swallowing (nervous habit), functional gas/constipation, gas/bloat syndrome, obesity, umbilical hernia or ventral hernia

Causes in Alphabetical Order


References

  1. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016
  2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X

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