DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2013.v01i02.015

Pages: 96-97

Abstract: Acute gastric dilatation is a dangerous condition that has multiple aetiologies but more often anxiety as a factor is often ignored. This is more important in present day care surgical environment where emphasis is to reduce stay of the patient & reduce cost of surgery. This case is an example of a anxious pregnant female who underwent cervical encirclage under sodium pentothal anaesthesia, was discharged on the same day and presented the next day with massive vomiting and abdominal distension. The present pregnancy was precious and obviously the patient was anxious about the procedure although it was a short procedure, thereby stimulating aerophagia that stimulates gastric dilatation. The patient was followed up for one year for identifying new signs and symptoms that could have been the cause of her symptoms but patient delivered normally and was symptom free. This case is unusual as it was done under pentothal anaesthesia and the procedure was extra abdominal.