Acute abdomen in mentally retarded patients: role of aerophagia. Report of nine cases.
Between 1993 and 1996 nine mentally retarded patients presented because of an acute abdomen. All had the habit of aerophagia, diagnosed previously by a general practitioner. Massive distension of the bowel led to ileus, volvulus, and necrosis. After placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy catheter or performing a gastrostomy during laparotomy with the intention to use as a desufflator, no recurrence of the signs and symptoms of an acute abdomen were observed.
van der Kolk
M B
MB
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Bender
M H
MH
Goris
R J
RJ
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D000334:Aerophagy / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male