title: The role of sigmoidoscopy in thediagnosis and treatment of sigmoid volvulus.
abstract: Sigmoid volvulus (SV) is a rare form of acute intestinal obstruction in which the sigmoid colon wraps around itself. The disease generally presents as a mechanical bowel obstruction with clinical features that are not pathognomonic. Similarly, X-ray films are not diagnostic in most cases. It is difficult to establish the correct preoperative diagnosis when CT and MRI are not used. The principal strategy in the treatment of SV in uncomplicated patients is emergency endoscopic detorsion followed by elective surgery; emergent surgery is required in patients with bowel gangrene, bowel perforation, peritonitis, or unsuccessful endoscopic treatment. In this review, we have discussed the role of sigmoidoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of SV. Additionally, we have retrospectively and prospectively evaluated our 49-year, 987-patient clinical experience, the largest single-center SV series ever reported.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Sabri Selcuk Atamanalp, MD, Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, 25040, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sabri Selcuk
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Atamanalp
authors.affiliation: Refik Selim Atamanalp, English Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, 25040, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Refik Selim
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Atamanalp
keywords: Diagnosis; Sigmoid colon; Sigmoidoscopy; Treatment; Volvulus