Acute Phlegmonous Gastritis: Insights Into Etiology, Diagnosis, and Clinical Management

Acute phlegmonous gastritis is a rare and life-threatening form of gastritis characterized by suppurative inflammation of the gastric wall. We present the case of a 66-year-old female with a history of diabetes and hypertension who presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, progressing to refractory shock and severe metabolic acidosis. Abdominal imaging revealed diffuse thickening of the gastric wall with surrounding fat strands, suggesting acute phlegmonous gastritis. Despite aggressive resuscitation and critical care management, the patient's condition continued to deteriorate, and she ultimately succumbed to her illness. The importance of this case is early recognition, giving fluid resuscitation and broad empirical antibiotics, and prompt surgical intervention in acute phlegmonous gastritis, a condition with a high mortality rate.