title: Colonic volvulus in the United States: trends, outcomes, and predictors of mortality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colonic volvulus is a rare entity associated with high mortality rates. Most studies come from areas of high endemicity and are limited by small numbers. No studies have investigated trends, outcomes, and predictors of mortality at the national level.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2002-2010 was retrospectively reviewed for colonic volvulus cases admitted emergently. Patients' demographics, hospital factors, and outcomes of the different procedures were analyzed. The LASSO algorithm for logistic regression was used to build a predictive model for mortality in cases of sigmoid (SV) and cecal volvulus (CV) taking into account preoperative and operative variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An estimated 3,351,152 cases of bowel obstruction were admitted in the United States over the study period. Colonic volvulus was found to be the cause in 63,749 cases (1.90%). The incidence of CV increased by 5.53% per year whereas the incidence of SV remained stable. SV was more common in elderly males (aged 70 years), African Americans, and patients with diabetes and neuropsychiatric disorders. In contrast, CV was more common in younger females. Nonsurgical decompression alone was used in 17% of cases. Among cases managed surgically, resective procedures were performed in 89% of cases, whereas operative detorsion with or without fixation procedures remained uncommon. Mortality rates were 9.44% for SV, 6.64% for CV, 17% for synchronous CV and SV, and 18% for transverse colon volvulus. The LASSO algorithm identified bowel gangrene and peritonitis, coagulopathy, age, the use of stoma, and chronic kidney disease as strong predictors of mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colonic volvulus is a rare cause of bowel obstruction in the United States and is associated with high mortality rates. CV and SV affect different populations and the incidence of CV is on the rise. The presence of bowel gangrene and coagulopathy strongly predicts mortality, suggesting that prompt diagnosis and management are essential.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA; and †Department of Statistics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA.
authors.forename: Wissam J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Halabi
authors.forename: Mehraneh D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.forename: Celeste Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Vinh Q
authors.initials: VQ
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pigazzi
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stamos
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D003125:Colostomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003664:Decompression / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D045822:Intestinal Volvulus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult