The Cast Syndrome

Abstract

THE purpose of this paper is to call attention to the dangers of pernicious vomiting in connection with the application of a body cast. Cases of acute gastric dilatation abound in both textbooks and periodic literature, but there is remarkably little material concerning the application of a body cast as a cause. No detailed description of acute gastric dilatation (gastrectasia) is given, but a brief background is offered.Acute gastric dilatation was first mentioned by von Rokitansky¹ in 1861, and his theory of its etiology still holds. He believed, and his theory is substantiated by Conner² and others, that the . . .