Gastroparesis: A Unique Case Leading to Acute Limb Ischemia with Literature Review

Gastrointestinal symptoms are a common presentation in the Emergency Department. Ranging from abdominal pain to nausea and vomiting, most patients do not require a full work-up for a diagnosis to be made. Gastroparesis is the delay in gastric emptying and motility leading to the retention of gastric fluids. It may appear as abdominal pain, distention, nausea, and vomiting. Multiple etiologies may present, including idiopathic, medications, and neuromuscular disease. Complications from gastric distention such as acute limb ischemia may occur due to the pressure effect on the iliac artery. Most management focuses on symptomatic management with surgical treatment being for extreme cases. This case follows a 54-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain and distention. The patient developed acute limb ischemia which subsided after decompression of the stomach. The patient had gastric by-pass surgery to subside the symptoms of gastroparesis.