Studies In Abdominal Distention

Author

Valerie Bertina Johnson, Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College

Date of Award

8-1943

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Degree Discipline

Biology

Abstract

Experiments have increased in number within recent years on the problem of Abdominal Distention. Gatch has stated that "distention is the primary cause of death from all forms of bowel obstruction, mechanical or paralytic, and most of the other supposed and suggested causes of death cannot exist in the absence of distention." Gilbert, Leroy and Feun have performed a number of experiments showing the effect of abdominal distention on coronary blood flow. In these experiments they have shown that distention of the stomach with air causes a decrease in coronary flow, mediated by a reflex over the vagus nerve causing vasoconstriction of the coronary vessels, as is typical of Angina Pectoris, van Duyn has shown that abdominal distention is concluded to be at least one important cause of a degenerative leucocyte picture.

The importance of this problem reflects itself in the great questions concerning gaseous distention of "the stomach and intestine, present in obstruction of the bowel and in some cases of Peritonitis associated with Acute Appendicitis. Also involved is this problem, although more chronically, is the distention of the abdomen during the presence of tumors and during pregnancy.

Committee Chair/Advisor

Walter M. Booker

Committee Member

Walter M. Booker

Publisher

Prairie View State Normal And Industrial College

Rights

Date of Digitization

2/1/2022

Contributing Institution

John B Coleman Library

City of Publication

Prairie View

MIME Type

Application/PDF

Recommended Citation

Johnson, V. B. (1943). Studies In Abdominal Distention. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/pvamu-theses/1041