Postprandial fullness

An unpleasant sensation of persistent gastric distension and prolonged intragastric retention of food after a meal, disproportionate to meal size and not relieved by normal gastric emptying.

Causes

• Functional dyspepsia

  • Impaired gastric accommodation

  • Visceral hypersensitivity

  • Functional gastrointestinal motility disorders

• Gastroparesis

  • Diabetic gastroparesis

  • Postsurgical gastroparesis

  • Neuropathic or muscular disorders affecting gastric emptying

• Gastrointestinal inflammatory and infectious causes

  • Gastritis

  • Helicobacter pylori infection

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

  • Peptic ulcer disease

• Medications slowing gastric motility

  • Opioids

  • NSAIDs

  • Antibiotics

  • Anticholinergic medications

• Metabolic and systemic diseases affecting gastrointestinal motility

  • Diabetes mellitus

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Electrolyte disturbances

• Psychological disorders involving the gut–brain interaction

  • Stress

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

• Mechanical gastric outlet obstruction