| Sigmoid colon volvulus | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Sigmoid volvulus |
 | |
| Specialty | General surgery |
Sigmoid colon volvulus, also known as sigmoid volvulus, is volvulus affecting the sigmoid colon. It is a common cause of bowel obstruction and constipation. It is common in Asia, India (7% of intestinal obstruction) and especially South India because of the high fibre diet. It is a very common cause of large bowel obstruction in Peru and Bolivia due to high altitude.
Signs and symptoms
- Pain in abdomen – initially left-sided, eventually all over
- Absolute constipation
- Enormous distension of abdomen
- Late vomiting and eventually dehydration
- Features of peritonitis
- Hiccup and retching may occur
- Tyre-like feel of the abdomen is diagnostic
Cause
The condition is more common in males and with old age. It is also common in people with chronic constipation and laxative abuse.
It is common in:
- Ogilvie syndrome
- Individuals with learning difficulties
- Chagas disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Anticholinergic drugs
- Multiple sclerosis
- Scleroderma
- Parkinson's disease
In sigmoid, volvulus rotation is always anticlockwise. It requires one and a half rotation to cause vascular obstruction and gangrene which eventually leads to perforation either at the root or at the summit of the sigmoid loop.
Diagnosis
- Plain X-ray (diagnostic in 70–80%): coffee bean sign is seen
- Contrast enema: bird beak sign
- CT scan: shows characteristic whirl pattern
- Blood: haematocrit, renal functions, serum electrolytes
Treatment
- RT aspiration
- IV fluids
- Catheterisation
- Antibiotics
- By flatus tube or sigmoidoscope, derotation is done
- If derotation does not occur, then laparotomy through midline incision should be done. It is derotated manually. If viable, it can be fixed to lateral wall of abdomen or pelvis
- If sigmoid colon is gangrenous, then Hartmann's operation or Paul Mikulicz operation is done
References
- Balachandar, M. (2017). "Emergency Resection and Primary Anastamosis of Sigmoid Volvulus with Tube Caecostomy as a Temporary Decompression of Colon by Malecots Catheter" (PDF). New Indian Journal of Surgery. 8 (1): 47–48. doi:10.21088/nijs.0976.4747.8117.8. ISSN 0976-4747.
- Sriram Bhat (2012). SRB's Manual of Surgery. JP Medical Ltd. p. 997. ISBN 9789350259443.
- Jaypee Brothers (2007). Srb's Manual of Surgery by Bhat. Jaypee Brothers Publishers. p. 583. ISBN 9788180618475.
- Gingold D, Murrell Z (2012). "Management of Colonic Volvulus". Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 25 (4): 236–244. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1329535. PMC 3577612. PMID 24294126.
- Scott C Thornton (November 30, 2015). "Sigmoid and Cecal Volvulus". Medscape. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
External links
| Classification | D |
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