Management of sigmoid colon volvulus.
OBJECTIVE
Sigmoid colon is the most frequent site for a volvulus. The condition has been a formidable one, fraught with innumerable complications responsible for many deaths. In this report, we reviewed our experience with sigmoid colon volvulus.


METHODS
We present our experience of 61 cases of sigmoid volvulus admitted to our department. Twenty-four patients were subjected to non-operative decompression and the others underwent emergency operation.


RESULTS
Intestinal volvulus has quite a high morbidity and mortality. Mortality rate of elective resection following sigmoidoscopy was 7.6%. Mortality rate for emergency surgical detortion, primary resection and Hartman procedure were respectively 13%, 16.6% and 37.5%. Important factors such as the patient's features and frequent late diagnosis can influence the complicated outcome of the disease. Plain X-ray of the abdomen is helpful.


CONCLUSIONS
Management with the conservative method of treatment in the form of detortion by sigmoidoscopy and rectal tube application is initially effective in most cases of volvulus of the sigmoid colon. On the other hand, elective or emergency sigmoid resection is the most effective treatment for the disease.
Dülger
M
M
Kocaeli University School of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, Turkey.
Cantürk
N Z
NZ
Utkan
N Z
NZ
Gonullu
N N
NN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*