Background:

Acute gastric dilatation is a rare condition that occurs mostly in young female patients, associated with a psychological disorder like bulimia and anorexia nervosa; this pathology can endanger life.

Clinical case:

A 17-year-old woman started suffering two days prior to her admission to the hospital with epigastric pain after food intake. On the physical examination, we observed a distended, tympanic abdomen, with widespread pain upon palpation, positive rebound, and peristalsis. In abdominal radiographs, gastric distension was observed. The final diagnosis was made intraoperatively. Changes were found in the coloration of the gastric chamber, so performing a vertical hemigastrectomy was necessary. The subsequent evolution of the patient was favorable.

Conclusion:

The importance of this case lies in that it is a rare pathology; if we do not think about it, it is not diagnosed. Some radiological signs such as gastric dilatation can be displayed on a study as simple as a plain abdominal X-ray. Since its complications threaten the patient’s life, it is a surgical emergency; therefore, it is important to recognize this condition in a timely manner.