Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Topics in Gastroenterology ((TGEN))

  • 69 Accesses

Abstract

Excessive intestinal gas is thought to cause a variety of abdominal symptoms. Such gas problems clearly cannot be attributed to recent alterations in diet or environment since the first known treatise on abdominal gas, The Winds, was authored by Hippocrates over 2000 years ago. While the intervening years have not resulted in great strides in our therapy of gas problems, our understanding of the etiology of these complaints has been enhanced by studies carried out over the past 20 years. This chapter reviews recent advances in our understanding of the origin of gaseous complaints and the present, unsatisfactory state of treatment of this problem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Maddock WG, Bell JL, Tremain MJ. Gastro-intestinal gas. Observation on belching during anaesthesia, operations and pyelography; and rapid passage of gas. Ann Surg 1949; 130:512–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kirk E. The quantity and composition of human colonic flatus. Gastroenterology 1949;12:782–794.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hood JH. Effect of posture on the amount and distribution of gas in the intestinal tract of infants. Lancet 1964;2:107–110.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Fordtran JS, Walsh JH. Gastric acid secretion rate and buffer content of the stomach after eating. Results in normal subjects and in patients with duodenal ulcer. J Clin Invest 1973;52:645.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Rune SJ. Acid-base parameters of duodenal contents in man. Gastroenterology 1972;62:533.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Turnberg LA, Fordtran JS, Carter NW, Rector FC. Mechanism of bicarbonate absorption and its relationship to sodium transport in the human jejunum. J Clin Invest 1970;49:548.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Levitt MD. Production and excretion of hydrogen gas in man. N Engl J Med 1969;281:122–127.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Levitt MD, Engel RR. Intestinal gas. In: Advances in Internal Mediane, Vol 20 (Strollerman E, ed). Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers, Inc., 1975, p. 151.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bond JH, Levy M, Levitt MD. Explosion of hydrogen gas in the colon during proctosigmoidscopy. Gastrointe Endosc 1976;23:41–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bond JH, Engel RR, Levitt MD. Factors influencing pulmonary methane excretion in man. J Exp Med 1911,133:572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Moore JG, Jessop LD, Osborne DN. A gas-chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis of the odor of human feces. Gastroenterology (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Levitt MD, Berggren T, Hasting J, Bond JH. Hydrogen (H2) catabolism in the colon of the rat. J Lab Clin Med 1974;84:163–167.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Levine AS, Bond JH, Prentiss R, Levitt MD. Metabolism of carbon monoxide by the colonic flora of man. Gastroenterology 1982;83:633–637.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Andersen K, Ringsted A. Clinical and experimental investigations; ileus with particular reference to the genesis of intestinal gas. Acta Chir Scand 1943;88:475–502.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Levitt MD, Lasser R, Schwartz J, Bond JH. Studies of a flatulent patient. N Engl J Med 1976;295:260–262.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Levitt MD, Ingelfinger FJ. The volume, composition, and rate of accumulation of human intestinal gas. Gastroenterology 1968;54:1296.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Levitt MD. Volume and composition of human intestinal gas. N Engl J Med 1971;284:1394.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wittneberg J, Levitt MD. Correlation of radiologic appearance and measured volume of intestinal gas. Invest Radiol 1970;5:244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Lasser RH, Bond JH, Levitt MD. The role of intestinal gas in functional abdominal pain. N Engl J Med 1975;293:524–526.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Johnson AG. Controlled trial of metoclopramide in the treatment of flatulent dyspepsia. Br Med J 1971;2:25–26.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Levitt MD, Sutalf LO. Follow-up of a flatulent patient. Dig Dis Sci 1979;24:652–654.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Plenum Publishing Corporation

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Levitt, M.D. (1989). Intestinal Gas. In: Shaffer, E., Thomson, A.B.R. (eds) Modern Concepts in Gastroenterology Volume 2. Topics in Gastroenterology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0781-5_16

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0781-5_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8079-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0781-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics