Acute massive gastric dilatation is a rare event that is usually underdiagnosed. It can occur due to multiple etiologies, including medical and surgical, or as a postoperative complication. Acute massive gastric dilatation can lead to life-threatening fatal complications, including perforation, bleeding, or shock.

Symptoms

• Pain in the stomach.
• Vomiting.
• Nausea.
• Constipation.
• Abnormal swelling of the belly region.
• Chest pain.
• Respiratory distress (shortness of breath).

Causes

The conditions that can lead to AMGD are psychogenic polyphagia, diabetes mellitus, trauma, electrolyte disturbances, gastric volvulus, and binge eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Most of the cases are reported as a postoperative complication.