What tests are needed for gastrointestinal bloating

Gastrointestinal flatulence is mainly caused by gastrointestinal obstruction or intestinal obstruction, which prevents the gas in the gastrointestinal tract from being discharged normally with peristalsis. Long-term accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract causes flatulence. What are the tests for gastrointestinal flatulence? There are many reasons for gastrointestinal flatulence, which may be due to problems with the digestive function of the gastrointestinal tract, or it may be caused by other diseases such as diabetes. Let’s learn about this knowledge together below.

1. Medical history - gastrointestinal flatulence examination

Pay attention to whether the patient has a history of ulcers or previous abdominal surgery. Pay attention to the onset, progression, location of abdominal distension, and history of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, etc. If there is diabetes in the medical history, pay attention to gastroparesis. If there is fever, night sweats, cough, and abdominal distension, pay attention to intestinal tuberculosis.

2. Physical examination - gastrointestinal flatulence examination

Generally speaking, gastrointestinal bloating is accompanied by a bloated abdomen. Distension limited to the upper abdomen is often caused by gas accumulation in the stomach or transverse colon. Abdominal distension due to intestinal gas may be limited to the mid-abdomen or may be distension of the entire abdomen. Abdominal distension due to pneumatosis colonica may be confined to the lower abdomen or left lower abdomen. In case of pyloric obstruction, gastric pattern and peristaltic waves may be seen in the upper abdomen. In case of intestinal obstruction, intestinal pattern and peristaltic waves may be seen, and bowel sounds may be hyperactive or weakened. Patients with peritonitis may have tenderness and muscle tension.

3. Laboratory examination - gastrointestinal flatulence examination

1. Stool examination: Routine stool examination is of diagnostic significance for intestinal inflammation and intestinal parasitic diseases. Persistent positive fecal occult blood often indicates a gastrointestinal tumor.

2. Liver function test: has diagnostic value for acute and chronic hepatitis.

3. Duodenal drainage: Collect bile for routine examination and culture, which has diagnostic value for biliary infection.

4. Pancreatic function test: pancreatic exocrine function test, blood and urine amylase and lipase determination. Increased values ​​often reflect pancreatic inflammation.

5. Small intestinal absorption function test: can check the fat content of feces D-xylose absorption and excretion test, vitamin B12 absorption test, etc.

4. Instrumental examination - gastrointestinal flatulence examination

1. X-ray examination

1. Abdominal X-ray: In case of pyloric obstruction or acute gastric dilatation, abdominal X-ray can show huge gastric bubbles and fluid level. In case of intestinal obstruction, a fluid level may be seen, the upper end of the obstructed intestine may be dilated, and in case of small intestinal obstruction, a ladder-shaped fluid level may be seen. The intestinal tract of megacolon is significantly widened and gas is accumulated.

2. Barium meal radiography: It is contraindicated in patients with complete pyloric and intestinal obstruction. It can be used with caution in patients with incomplete obstruction under the condition of gastrointestinal decompression. To understand the location of the obstruction.

3. Barium enema: mainly used for examination of colon lesions.

2. Laparoscopy

Flatulence should be contraindicated.

3. B-mode ultrasound and CT examination

It is mainly used to understand the morphological changes of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas.