title: Unraveling functional abdominal bloating and distension: the role of thoraco-abdominal accommodation and a physical sign to aid its detection.
abstract: Bloating and distension are common complaints in patients with irritable bowel syndrome of which the cause has remained elusive, although it has been shown that the obvious explanation of excessive gas is unlikely. The recent application of technologies such as the gas challenge technique, abdominal inductance plethysmography, CT scanning, as well as electromyography of the diaphragm and anterior abdominal wall, have allowed the situation to be slowly unraveled. It is now seems probable that the pathophysiology of bloating and distension are subtly different with the former having a sensory component whereas mechanical factors, such as disordered abdominal accommodation, contribute more to the latter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Manchester, UK. peter.whorwell@uhsm.nhs.uk
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Whorwell
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult