POSTOPERATIVE GASEOUS DISTENTION OF THE INTESTINE

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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gaseous distention of the intestine is one of the most frequent complications following the trauma of abdominal operations, peritonitis or other type of injury to the abdominal viscera. It always entails discomfort to the patient and is sometimes a grave danger. The methods advocated in different clinics for its prevention and treatment are so varied in character and often in such striking contradiction to each other that one is forced to the conclusion that there is no general agreement as to the underlying physiologic processes. These processes are complex, and the amount of experimental work bearing directly on them is small. Some of the more fundamental features of the problem are undoubtedly concerned with the disturbances of motor activity of the gastro-intestinal tract, following injury. A clinical classification and discussion of the different types of injury will be found in articles by Murphy,1 Rost2 and others. The

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