[Acute gastric dilatation with superior mesenteric artery syndrome in a young girl with anorexia nervosa].
BACKGROUND
Acute gastric dilatation is a rare complication of anorexia nervosa which may be fatal in case of gastric perforation. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome may be associated with gastric dilatation.


METHODS
A 14 year-old girl was admitted suffering from severe anorexia nervosa. Shortly after admission, she complained of abdominal pain related to a bulimic episode a few days before, followed by nausea and vomiting. Distended abdomen and tachycardia suggested acute small-bowel obstruction. A diagnosis of acute gastric dilatation with superior mesenteric artery syndrome was suspected on X-ray examination and confirmed by esophagogastrography after gastric evacuation. The patient improved rapidly under total parenteral nutrition. Upper gastrointestinal study repeated 10 days later showed normal stomach.


CONCLUSIONS
Small-bowel obstruction in anorexia nervosa first evokes acute gastric dilatation, and a perforation has to be ruled out by esophagogastrography. Association with superior mesenteric artery syndrome is possible; it does not necessarily lead to surgery.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D013271:Gastric Dilatation / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D013478:Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome / Q000150:complications*
Dilatation aiguë de l'estomac avec pince mésentérique chez une jeune fille anorexique.