Volvulus of the transverse colon: report of case and review of the literature.
A case of transverse colon volvulus is reported, bringing the total number of collected cases in the English language medical literature to 45. Although this type of volvulus is rare, a definite pattern can be appreciated. Patients tend to be young, female, and give a history of chronic or recurrent difficulty in having bowel movements. A triad of underlying factors predisposes to the development of the volvulus: a distal impediment (either organic or functional) to the evacuation of the bowel, a redundant bowel and mesocolon and a fixed point around which the bowel can twist. The best treatment is resection with either anastomosis or exteriorization, depending on bowel viability.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged