title: Adult Hirschsprung's disease presenting as sigmoid volvulus: a case report and review of literature.
abstract: Sigmoid volvulus is a rare presentation of Hirschsprung's disease. A 38-year-old male presented with acute intestinal obstruction and a history of chronic constipation since childhood. Abdominal radiographs showed megarectum and megacolon with dissipated feces. Sigmoidoscopy revealed gangrenous bowel mucosa affecting the sigmoid colon. Emergency laparotomy revealed a grossly dilated bowel with concurrent gangrenous sigmoid volvulus. He was treated successfully with proctocolectomy with J-pouch-anal anastomosis and a defunctioning ileostomy. Histological analysis was consistent with short segment Hirschsprung's disease. Although uncommon, adult Hirschsprung's disease is a cause of chronic constipation and can present acutely with a sigmoid volvulus. Mortality in cases with sigmoid volvulus is greater than in cases without (15.4% vs. 0%). A better awareness of this condition will facilitate management.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. feliciates@hotmail.com
authors.forename: F L S
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Y-M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Heah
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seow-Choen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D045822:Intestinal Volvulus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery