[Pathogenetic basis and therapeutic management of meteorism (author's transl)]

Meteorism might be a symptom of organic intestinal obstruction, which needs surgical treatment in most cases. However it is often a functional phenomenon. It may be produced by aerophagy, followed by sonor, non fetid flatulence. Large amounts of gas are produced by the contact of gastric acidity with alcaline pancreatic secretion and by enzymatic digestion of food. Most of these gases are absorbed by the intestine and exhaled. In the colon bacterial fermentation and putrefaction produce fetid gas which is expulsed as flatus. Overeating, bacterial invasion of the small intestin, inflammatory and circulatory disturbances of the small bowel and obstipation favour meteorism. The treatment depends of the origin of meteorism.