title: Treatment of sigmoid volvulus: experience in Gondar, north-west Ethiopia.
abstract: A retrospective study of 145 patients with sigmoid volvulus (SV) seen over a three year period is presented. Sigmoid volvulus (SV) was the commonest cause of emergency admissions with intestinal obstruction (56%). The mean age was 55 +/- 13 years, (range 10-80), and the male to female ratio was 13.5:1. The presence or absence of a previous attack makes a significant difference in the occurrence of gangrenous bowel. Eighteen out of 75 patients (24%) with no previous attack had gangrenous bowel compared with 2 out of 57 (4%) after recurrence. A conservative sigmoidoscopic detorsion was successful in the majority of the cases (63%). Elective surgery after bowel preparation was associated with a mortality rate of 3% in comparison to 12.5 mortality rate in patients with viable bowel operated on an emergency basis (p < 0.05). Sigmoidoscopic detorsion should be the first measure in patients with viable bowel.
authors.affiliation: Gondar College of Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004630:Emergencies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012008:Recurrence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome