Medical imaging (plain X-rays, GI series, CT scan)[1]
Treatment
Sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, bowel resection[3]
Frequency
2.5 per 100,000 per year[4][2]
A volvulus is when a loop of intestine twists around itself and the mesentery that supports it, resulting in a bowel obstruction.[1] Symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, vomiting, constipation, and bloody stool.[1][2] Onset of symptoms may be rapid or more gradual.[2] The mesentery may become so tightly twisted that blood flow to part of the intestine is cut off, resulting in ischemic bowel.[1] In this situation there may be fever or significant pain when the abdomen is touched.[2]
Risk factors include a birth defect known as intestinal malrotation, an enlarged colon, Hirschsprung disease, pregnancy, and abdominal adhesions.[1] Long term constipation and a high fiber diet may also increase the risk.[3] The most commonly affected part of the intestines in adults is the sigmoid colon with the cecum being second most affected.[1] In children the small intestine is more often involved.[5] The stomach can also be affected.[6] Diagnosis is typically with medical imaging such as plain X-rays, a GI series, or CT scan.[1]
Initial treatment for sigmoid volvulus may occasionally occur via sigmoidoscopy or with a barium enema.[3] Due to the high risk of recurrence, a bowel resection within the next two days is generally recommended.[3] If the bowel is severely twisted or the blood supply is cut off, immediate surgery is required.[1] In a cecal volvulus, often part of the bowel needs to be surgically removed.[3] If the cecum is still healthy, it may occasionally be returned to a normal position and sutured in place.[1][3]
Cases of volvulus were described in ancient Egypt as early as 1550 BC.[3] It occurs most frequently in Africa, the Middle East, and India.[3][7][8] Rates of volvulus in the United States are about 2–3 per 100,000 people per year.[2][4] Sigmoid and cecal volvulus typically occurs between the ages of 30 and 70.[1][9] Outcomes are related to whether or not the bowel tissue has died.[2] The term volvulus is from the Latin "volvere"; which means "to roll".[3]
^ abcdefghijklm"Anatomic Problems of the Lower GI Tract". NIDDK. July 2013. Archived from the original on 28 July 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
^ abcdefghMarx J, Walls R, Hockberger R (2013). "95". Rosen's Emergency Medicine - Concepts and Clinical Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 978-1-4557-4987-4. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16.
^ abcdefghijGingold D, Murrell Z (December 2012). "Management of colonic volvulus". Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery. 25 (4): 236–44. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1329535. PMC 3577612. PMID 24294126. The Papyrus Ebers, ca. 1550 BC, described the natural course of volvulus to be spontaneous reduction or "rotting" of the intestines
^ abGordon PH, Nivatvongs S (2007). Principles and Practice of Surgery for the Colon, Rectum, and Anus, Third Edition. CRC Press. p. 971. ISBN 978-1-4200-1799-1. Archived from the original on 2016-08-17.
^Wilkins LW (2009). Professional Guide to Diseases. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 283. ISBN 978-0-7817-7899-2.
^Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ (2010). Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management, Expert Consult Premium Edition - Enhanced Online Features (9 ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 384. ISBN 978-1-4377-2767-8. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16.
^Brothwell DR, R DW, Sandison AT (14 May 2014). Diseases in Antiquity: A Survey of the Diseases, Injuries, and Surgery of Early Populations. Charles C. Thomas Publisher, Limited. ISBN 978-0-398-08909-2.
^Ballantyne GH (July 1982). "Review of sigmoid volvulus: History and results of treatment". Diseases of the Colon & Rectum. 25 (5): 494–501. doi:10.1007/BF02553666. S2CID 37405850.
^Beck D, Beck DE (2012). "23". Handbook of Colorectal Surgery: Third Edition. JP Medical Ltd. ISBN 978-1-907816-20-8. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16.
cecal volvulus sigmoid colon volvulus (sigmoid volvulus) volvulus of the transverse colon volvulus of the splenic flexure, the rarest gastric volvulus ileosigmoid...
when it takes a blood meal, thus completing the lifecycle of O. volvulus. O. volvulus causes onchocerciasis, which causes severe itching. Long-term infection...
reduction in recurrence of gastric volvulus is seen. Of 136 dogs that had surgery for gastric dilatation-volvulus, six that did have gastropexies had...
Sigmoid colon volvulus, also known as sigmoid volvulus, is volvulus affecting the sigmoid colon. It is a common cause of bowel obstruction and constipation...
Gastric volvulus or volvulus of stomach is a twisting of all or part of the stomach by more than 180 degrees with obstruction of the flow of material through...
Kennel Club survey were cancer (31%), old age (13%), gastric dilatation volvulus (11%), and cardiac (8%). Information from veterinary data found the prevalence...
Cyclophorus volvulus is a species of gastropods belonging to the family Cyclophoridae. The species inhabits terrestrial environments. "WoRMS - World Register...
Mansonella streptocerca, and Onchocerca volvulus. These worms occupy the layer just under the skin. O. volvulus causes river blindness. Serous cavity filariasis...
hematochezia. Volvulus occurs when a portion of the bowel twists around its mesentery, which can lead to obstruction and infarction. Volvulus in the elderly...
parasitic infection caused by the roundworm species Onchocerca volvulus. The larvae of O. volvulus enter a human host when an infected female adult fly from...
8%. A review of 1,934 cases of dogs presenting for gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) found the Old English Sheepdog to be predisposed, with an odds ratio...
Xyleborus volvulus is a species of typical bark beetles in the family Curculionidae. It is found in North America. Xyleborus volvulus beetles are found...
swallowing and chest pains. Complications may include iron deficiency anemia, volvulus, or bowel obstruction. The most common risk factors are obesity and older...
mixed-breeds. The Dobermann is also predisposed to gastric dilatation volvulus. A study of 295 cases in America found 6.1% of cases to belong to the Dobermann...
One study found the Rottweiler to be prediposed to gastric dilatation volvulus. However another study did not find a predisposition. The Rottweiler is...
These include abdominal pain, torsion of the bowel (transverse colon volvulus) or shortness of breath. The exact cause is not always known, but it may...
deep-chested breeds, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is prone to gastric dilatation volvulus, commonly known as bloat. This is a potentially fatal condition that requires...
procedure is often performed for patients presenting with gastric dilatation volvulus in which a wide-bore trocar is passed through the skin into the stomach...
by something outside of the vessel causing it to narrow (e.g., tumor, volvulus, or hernia), ruptured by trauma causing a loss of blood pressure downstream...
for elbow dysplasia. The Newfoundland is predisposed to gastric dilation volvulus (GDV). In a survey of breed club members in the UK it was found that 10%...
Phyllomya volvulus is a species of fly in the family Tachinidae. British Isles, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine...
PEGs may also be inserted to decompress the stomach in cases of gastric volvulus. Gastrostomy may be indicated in numerous situations, usually those in...
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