I hear it is common among ibs sufferers but i havnt seen it here. Splenic flexure syndrome definition of splenic flexure. Carcinoma of the splenic flexure is uncommon and the diagnosis should be kept in mind, particularly in patients with recurring upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Splenic flexure definition of splenic flexure by medical. Splenic flexure syndrome is a catch all diagnosis for youve got gas or distension going on in the kink area of you large bowel up under the left side of the ribs.
Splenic flexure syndrome is characterised by extreme pain over the abdomen due to excessive gas entrapment. When the splenic flexure is mobilized, the spleen can be injured and cause troublesome bleeding. May 16, 20 splenic flexure syndrome may also be caused by ulcerative colitis. Clinical experiences with the splenic flexure syndrome and the. Splenic flexure syndrome refers to the trapping of gas at the splenic flexure causing distension and bloating.
The right colic flexure or hepatic flexure as it is next to the liver is the sharp bend between the ascending colon and the transverse colon. Muscle spasms and abdominal distention are considered as causative of the syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome ibs clinical presentation. Splenic flexure syndrome is a term sometimes used to describe bloating, muscle spasms of the colon, and upper abdominal discomfort thought. Being able to identify the causes of sfs will be a big help in keeping the digestive system from further aggravation. Splenic flexure syndrome takes that uncomfortable feeling and amplifies the experience. The splenic flexure can be found close to the spleen and a. Besides my nausea,alternating constipation and d, i get a lot of pain from what i guess is trapped gas there.
Trapped gas can cause spasms in the colonic wall and the. This condition can be treated by over the counter medications and healthy foods. Splenic flexure syndrome sfs can be defined as a form of chronic digestive disorder that is characterized by spasms of splenic flexure of colon which is caused by the trapped gas in splenic flexure or the bends of colon. It is also known as chronic digestive disorder and is often classified as a subtype of ibs or irritable bowel syndrome. Trapped gas often occurs in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome ibs. It has been suggested that the chronic pain i have below my left rib could be caused by splenic flexure syndrome. The splenic flexure lies at a higher level compared with the hepatic flexure fig. The two main causes of gas pain are probably eating foods that irritate you and psychological stress. From what i have read about this, it seems it is caused by trapped gas, and usually goes along with constipation. I am not sure i have any trapped gas, certainly not on a regular basis and i definitely do not have constipation or diarrhea. It may be induced experimentally by the introduction and. Splenic flexure syndrome is a chronic disorder producing symptoms of pain that appears to be caused by trapped gas in the splenic flexure or bends of the colon. Several novel treatment approaches are currently being studied.
This bend is simply part of the normal structure of the colon. Resection is usually possible and operative complications are few. Splenic flexure syndrome symptoms, causes, diagnosis. Splenic flexure syndrome symptoms, treatment, diet, causes. Splenic flexure syndrome diet tips and tricks from doctors.
It has been classified into four main types depending on whether diarrhea is common, constipation is common, both are common, or neither occurs very often ibsd, ibsc, ibs. May 10, 2017 splenic flexure syndrome occurs as a result of muscle spasms and abdominal distention leading to pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen. Splenic flexure volvulus in which posture advice was. Splenic flexure article about splenic flexure by the. Dependable irritable bowel syndrome ibs causes, symptoms, support and treatment for digestive health sufferers, family and friends since 1987. Left untreated, like my case, the splenic flexure can cause what is called a pseudo obstruction in the bowel which can lead to chronic symptoms. The splenic flexure is a sharp bend between the transverse colon and the descending colon in the human abdomen. Osler coined the term mucous colitis in 1892 when he wrote of a disorder of mucorrhea and abdominal colic with a high incidence in patients with coincident psychopathology. The splenic flexure is an area of the large intestine located right next to the spleen. The phrenicocolic ligament attaches the splenic flexure to the left hemidiaphragm. Splenic flexure syndrome the pain on the left side near the spleen.
Ibs is one of the more common causes of increased gas. Splenic flexure syndrome symptoms,causes,treatment. An ibs community providing characteristics for diagnosis of symptoms and treatment, forums and chat rooms to talk about ibs, blogs, resource links, brochures, medical tests, book list, penpals, meetings, research studies and a list of medications. In conclusion splenic flexure syndrome is gas build up in the area of the colon called the splenic flexure. The site and supradiaphragmatic reference of the pain coincide with that produced experimentally by inflation of the splenic flexure by means of an introduced air balloon keen, almy and stolk, 1951. If you doc has ruled out all forms of actual physical problems from that area, they theyre forced to basically say we dont know what we can do.
Since retiring, i have spent most of my life laying on a comforter, with an electric blanket underneath, knees drawn up to my chest, begging god for relief, doctors say that stress from my job added to the problem, but since retiring it only seems to. There would have been more, but a severe case of splenic flexure syndrome forced retirement. Irritable bowel syndrome ibs is a functional gi disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits in the absence of a specific and unique organic pathology. Some hfsa patients have pain on the left sidesplenic flexure syndrome. We suspected that this part of the colon was the cause of the left upper abdominal pain and performed laparoscopic exploration. Many other diagnosis must be ruled out before giving this diagnosis to be sure the correct treatment is prescribed. Splenic flexure syndrome is a medical disorder characterised by gas entrapment inside the flexures located within the colon. Splenic flexure syndrome is a type of irritable bowel syndrome that causes gas to become trapped in the colon. A study of the clinical features, predisposing causes, and prognosis in cases. Some of the questions in the article above may not have helped you with the information you want.
Gas pain is often associated with shortterm pain and is cited as a passing problem. At the end of a properly performed mobilization, the colon from the sigmoid to the transverse colon can be lifted freely towards the right side, up to the midline. Incomplete volvulus of the splenic flexure is a cause of recurrent abdominal pain, but no effective treatment other than surgery is known. Splenic flexure syndrome ibs constipation ibsc and. These stents, when left long term, can also cause perirectal pain or migrate spontaneously. Instead, it can have longterm consequences for patien. The main two triggers of pain seem to be anxiety and certain foods. The exact location of the pain is at the splenic flexure. This is caused by distention or possible muscle spasm occurring in the splenic flexure of ones colon. Splenic flexure syndrome symptoms,causes,treatment,diet. Symptoms of this disease included pain in upperleft side of abdomen. This process can range from the annoying gas pains that you may experience periodically through life, to more of a debilitating condition that can cause extreme amounts of pain. Aug 30, 2004 i have suffered from splenic flexure syndrome for 35 years. I have suffered from splenic flexure syndrome for 35 years.
The pain results from gas trapped in the part of the large intestine that runs below the rib cage. The chinese have recognized this condition and regularly treat it with surgery to remove this small bend in the colon. The air that is trapped inside causes the feeling of discomfort 3. Splenic flexure syndrome symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment. Here you can read posts from all over the web from people who wrote about anxiety and splenic flexure syndrome, and check the relations between anxiety and splenic flexure syndrome page 2. Gas usually causes pain in the upper abdomen and lower chest. What causes splenic flexure syndrome and how to treat. It turns downwards as the descending colon, which, like the ascending colon, is retroperitoneal.
It is an inflammatory bowel disorder that involves the large intestine and initially develops in rectal area but later affects the whole of the large intestine. Understanding the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome nursing. Splenic flexure syndrome symptoms, treatment, causes, diet. Splenic flexure syndrome is at times classified as a subtype of irritable bowel syndrome and, in some, the symptoms that characterize splenic flexure syndrome is actually caused by ibs. Splenicflexure syndrome definition splenicflexure syndrome is a chronic disorder producing symptoms of pain that appears to be caused by trapped gas in the splenic flexure or bends of the colon. This section of colon can also become distended due to other underlying. Natural cure for splenicflexure syndrome and alternative. The splenic flexure is situated next to the spleen and a section of the large intestine or colon. Splenic flexure syndrome is a painful digestive disorder. Mar, 2018 splenic flexure syndrome is a medical disorder characterised by gas entrapment inside the flexures located within the colon. The site of the tumor does not affect longterm survival. Splenic flexure syndrome, ask a doctor about diagnosis.
The splenic flexure syndrome forms one of the mlarch, 1965 149 search. It receives blood supply from the superior mesenteric artery. It receives blood supply from the superior mesenteric artery the left colic flexure or splenic flexure as it is close to the spleen is the sharp bend between the. Splenic flexure definition of splenic flexure by the. Treato found 23 discussions about splenic flexure syndrome and anxiety on the web. The splenicflexure syndrome forms one of the mlarch, 1965 149 search. Jun 25, 2018 splenic flexure syndrome is a condition that causes gas to become trapped inside flexures or curves within your colon. How to get rid of trapped gas wind pain in the stomach. Irritable bowel syndrome ibs is a group of symptomsincluding abdominal pain and changes in the pattern of bowel movements without any evidence of underlying damage. Splenic flexure syndrome is a term sometimes used to describe bloating, muscle spasms of the colon, and upper abdominal discomfort thought to be caused by trapped gas at the splenic as opposed to hepatic flexure in the colon. These symptoms occur over a long time, often years. Problems sometimes arise with this area that are often diagnosed as splenic flexure syndrome. I am not sure i have any trapped gas, certainly not on a regular basis and i definitely do.
The three symptom subcategories of irritable bowel syndrome. It is important to known that trapped gas can occur at both bends of the colon and is therefore referred to as either hepatic flexure syndrome at the right bend or splenic flexure syndrome at the left bend. Apr 08, 2020 splenic flexure syndrome is at times classified as a subtype of irritable bowel syndrome and, in some, the symptoms that characterize splenic flexure syndrome is actually caused by ibs. It has been classified into four main types depending on whether diarrhea is common, constipation is common, both are. May 09, 2020 splenic flexure syndrome is a chronic disorder producing symptoms of pain which is caused by trapped gas in the bends of the colon or splenic flexure. Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis are disorders of unknown cause. I look forward to your resubmission and being able to answer your question. Failure to promptly identify and treat a splenic flexure volvulus can result in colonic ischaemia, gangrene, perforation and subsequent peritonitis with high mortality rates. Jan, 2010 splenic flexure volvulus is a rare but serious cause of large bowel obstruction. Laparoscopy of a splenic flexure volvulus sciencedirect. Splenic flexure syndrome symptoms, diet, causes,treatment. This step involves mobilizing the sigmoid colon, the left colon, and the splenic flexure.
Infections such as amoebiasis and tuberculosis may also lead to this syndrome. In anatomy, the splenic flexure is located between the transverse and descending colon. Langman 1982 states that it is one of the most common causes of. Mark dickson, texas tech university school of medicine answered may. Instead, it can have longterm consequences for patients who are slow to react or let it simmer for too long. Jun 1, 2017 contents1 what is splenic flexure syndrome. Splenic flexure syndrome is a condition basically characterized by pain and discomfort of the upper abdomen. What is splenic flexure syndrome and how is it treated. The most common cause of splenic flexure syndrome is the increased trapping of air or gas accumulation in the gi tract.
Gas is a normal and healthy part of the digestion process. Dec 11, 2019 irritable bowel syndrome ibs is a functional gi disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits in the absence of a specific and unique organic pathology. Splenic flexure syndrome occurs as a result of muscle spasms and abdominal distention leading to pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen. Apr 29, 2020 the splenic flexure is a sharp bend between the transverse colon and the descending colon in the human abdomen. The hepatic flexure lies in the right upper quadrant of the human abdomen. Your splenic flexure is in the sharp bend between your transverse. Splenic flexure article about splenic flexure by the free. The left colic flexure or splenic flexure as it is close to the spleen is the sharp bend between the transverse colon and the descending colon. Left colic flexure or splenic flexure is the bend in the large intestine in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen as the transverse colon continues as the descending colon. Splenic flexure definition of splenic flexure by the free. Splenic flexure syndrome trapped gas in left colon bend. The spasms are located in the splenic flexure, which is found in the colon that runs in between the transverse colon and the descending colon. At times, this syndrome is classified as a subtype of irritable bowel syndrome ibs. It is relieved by manipulation and antigas treatment.
They describe 52% of these as caecal in origin, 43% sigmoid, 3% transverse colon, and only 2% as splenic flexure. The transverse colon is the longest, most movable part of your colon and the descending colon travels down the left side of your body. Splenic flexure syndrome anybody general discussion. Trapped gas or trapped wind refers to a pocket of gas in the part of the colon that runs horizontally below the lowest ribs. Pain in ibs may be focal at the splenic flexure or the hepatic flexure.
Splenic flexure syndrome is a chronic disorder producing symptoms of pain which is caused by trapped gas in the bends of the colon or splenic flexure. It turns downwards as the descending colon, which, like the ascending colon, is. Gas symptoms are normal but splenic flexure syndrome causes excessive gas. It is held on to the diaphragm by a peritoneal fold, the phrenicocolic ligament on which the spleen sits. Splenic flexure syndrome from what i have read about this, it seems it is caused by trapped gas, and usually goes along with constipation. Splenic flexure syndrome is where gas becomes trapped at the left bend of the colon causing fullness, discomfort and even pain. Subtotal colectomy with ileosigmoid anastomosis would seem to be a safe method of treating patients with an. Splenic flexure syndrome is symptomatic, meaning allergens will trigger symptoms, which causes pain and discomfort to the individual. In order for the patient to have relief from the discomfort, passing of gas is needed, but in this condition, the patient experiences difficulty in doing. Splenic flexure syndrome is pain and discomfort that is felt at the upper abdomen. The pain that a suffering individual can experience is similar to the pain of a heart attack.