Korean J Anesthesiol.  2015 Apr;68(2):188-192. 10.4097/kjae.2015.68.2.188.

Acute gastric dilatation causing fatal outcome in a young female with eating disorder: a case report

• Youm SM
• Kim JY
• Lee JR

• KMID: 2236161
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2015.68.2.188

Abstract

A 21-year-old female with a history of bulimia nervosa came to the emergency room due to severe abdominal pain after excessive eating five hours previously. On arrival at the emergency room, extreme abdominal distension was detected and the patient's legs changed color. Computed tomography suggested severe gastric dilatation, so abdominal compartment syndrome was suspected and an emergent laparotomy was supposed to be conducted. Though anesthesia was induced without event, abrupt hemodynamic collapse developed just after the operation started. In spite of active resuscitation for 29 min, the patient did not recover and expired. As the incidence of eating disorders is increasing, anesthesiologists should keep in mind the possibility of abdominal compartment syndrome in patients with a recent history of binge eating, and prepare optimal anesthetic and resuscitation remedies against sudden deteriorations of a patient's condition.

Keyword

Abdominal compartment syndrome; Acute gastric distension; Eating disorders

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Anesthesia
Bulimia
Bulimia Nervosa
Eating
Feeding and Eating Disorders*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Fatal Outcome*
Female
Gastric Dilatation*
Hemodynamics
Humans
Incidence
Intra-Abdominal Hypertension
Laparotomy
Leg
Resuscitation
Young Adult