Could you tell me what a gastro-intestinal spasm and peritoneal spasms are?
Reply:
The muscles of the gastro-intestinal tract are not under voluntary control once food has been swallowed and up to the time stool is expelled from the body. These types of muscles surround the inner layers of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large bowel; they function to propel our food through the G.I. tract during which time it is acted on by mechanical and chemical forces so that it can be digested and absorbed into the body. These muscles, like other muscles, can seize up in what would be a cramp in the muscles of your arms or legs. This contraction is called spasm and can interfere with the muscles doing their job of propelling material through the digestive system. The spasm can cause pain or discomfort in the area it occurs which may be felt in different ways (for example, chest pain with esophageal spasms or abdominal cramps with spasm of the intestines, small or large).
Peritoneal spasm is not a real term since the peritoneum is the sheet of connective tissue which lines our abdominal and pelvic cavities to enclose our organs (including the liver, stomach, small intestines, etc.). It is like a "baggie" and since it has no muscle it can't really go into spasm. When irritated or inflamed, however, it can be the source of severe pain as in a perforated ulcer spilling acid into the baggie and causing "peritonitis" (surgery is then needed to deal with the ulcer since it is the cause of the peritoneal inflammation).
As I indicated in responding to another questioner the various clinics are staffed differently and some questions to some areas will be answered more quickly than others. Your question was only referred to the ofcn.digestive.clinic within the last few days. We expect a major improvement in response time in coming months including the possible addition of *graphic* support (via a WWW server) which will allow not only a written response but conceivably the ability to post diagrams or pictures which will enhance the educational value of this service.
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Bruce Sckolnick, M.D.
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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