There is a high prevalence of GERD in the obese population. Uncomplicated LAGB placement reduces the amount of acid in these patients with abnormal esophageal acid exposure.
Background: Patients with abdominal bloating and distension exhibit impaired transit of intestinal gas which may lead to excessive gas retention and symptoms. Furthermore, we have previously shown that intestinal gas transit is normally accelerated by rectal distension. We hypothesise that in patients with functional bloating this modulatory mechanism fails and impairs gas transit. Methods: In 12 healthy subjects and eight patients with abdominal bloating we compared, by paired studies, the effect of rectal versus sham distension on intestinal gas transit. Gas was infused into the jejunum (12 ml/min) for three hours with simultaneous perfusion of lipids into the duodenum (Intralipid 1 kcal/min) while measuring evacuation of gas per rectum. Results: In healthy subjects, duodenal lipid infusion produced gas retention (409 (68) ml) which was prevented by rectal distension (90 (90) ml; p,0.05 v sham distension). In contrast, rectal distension in patients with abdominal bloating failed to reduce lipid induced gas retention (771 (217) ml retention during rectal distension v 730 (183) ml during sham distension; NS; p,0.05 v healthy controls for both). Conclusion: Failure of distension related reflexes impairs intestinal gas propulsion and clearance in patients with abdominal bloating.
Bloating is one of the most common and bothersome symptoms complained by a large proportion of patients. This symptom has been described with various definitions, such as sensation of a distended abdomen or an abdominal tension or even excessive gas in the abdomen, although bloating should probably be defined as the feeling (e.g. a subjective sensation) of increased pressure within the abdomen. It is usually associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders, like irritable bowel syndrome, but when bloating is not part of another functional bowel or gastrointestinal disorder it is included as an independent entity in Rome Ⅲ criteria named functional bloating. In terms of diagnosis, major difficulties are due to the lack of measurable parameters to assess and grade this symptom. In addition, it is still unclear to what extent the individual patient complaint of subjective bloating correlates with the objective evidence of abdominal distension. In fact, despite its clinical, social and economic relevance, bloating lacks a clear pathophysiology explanation, and an effective management endorsement, turning this common symptom into a true challenge for both patients and clinicians. Different theories on bloating etiology call into questions an increased luminal contents (gas, stools, liquid or fat) and/or an impaired abdominal empting and/or an altered intra-abdominal volume displacement (abdomino-phrenic theory) and/ or an increased perception of intestinal stimuli with a subsequent use of empirical treatments (diet modifications, antibiotics and/or probiotics, prokinetic drugs, antispasmodics, gas reducing agents and tricyclic antidepressants). In this review, our aim was to review the latest knowledge on bloating physiopathology and therapeutic options trying to shed lights on those processes where a clinician could intervene to modify disease course. Key words: Bloating; Functional gastro-intestinal disorders; Irritable bowel syndrome; Constipation; Diarrhea Core tip: Bloating is one of the most common and bothersome symptoms complained by a large proportion of patients, mostly with functional gastrointestinal disorders, but when bloating is not part of another functional bowel or gastrointestinal disorder it is included as an independent entity in Rome Ⅲ criteria named functional bloating. Despite its clinical, social and economic Iovino P et al . Bloating and functional gastro-intestinal disorders relevance, bloating lacks a clear pathophysiology explanation and an effective management endorsement. Moreover, it is unclear to what extent subjective complaint of bloating correlates with the objective evidence of abdominal distension. The aim of this paper is to review the latest knowledge on bloating and to explore future research directions to improve its management.
Patients with abdominal bloating have normal colonic accommodation and ileocecal competence but impaired gas clearance from the proximal colon after retrograde infusion, and the consequences of this dysfunction are related to bowel habit.
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