Synonyms
Abnormal torsion; Twisting
Definition
A volvulus is an abnormal twisting of a digestive segment with obstruction of its lumen and/or blood supply. It can occur after birth as a result of a malrotation of a digestive segment or because of the absence of some intraperitoneal visceral ligaments but can be present also in adult life as a consequence of an elongated or abnormally mobile part of the digestive tract or secondary to a local obstacle formed by adhesions, inflammation, or tumors.
Clinical Features
Incidence
In children, volvulus is related to congenital abnormalities which predispose to a laxity of the segment movements, diaphragm anomalies, or other abdominal defects.
Gastric volvulus is a rare entity with unknown incidence, usually associated with diaphragmatic congenital anomalies and wandering spleen.
In pregnancy, volvulus is considered the second most common cause of intestinal obstruction.
Cecal and sigmoid volvulus was reported more common in India, Africa...
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Ballantyne, G. H., Brandner, M. D., Beart, R. W., Jr., & Ilstrup, D. M. (1985). Volvulus of the colon. Incidence and mortality. Annals of Surgery, 202(1), 83–92.
Cirocchi, R., Farinella, E., La Mura, F., Morelli, U., Trastulli, S., Milani, D., Di Patrizi, M. S., Rossetti, B., Spizzirri, A., Galanou, I., Kopanakis, K., Mecarelli, V., & Sciannameo, F. (2010). The sigmoid volvulus: Surgical timing and mortality for different clinical types. World Journal of Emergency Surgery, 5, 1. doi:10.1186/1749-7922-5-1.
Halabi, W. J., Jafari, M. D., Kang, C. Y., Nguyen, V. Q., Carmichael, J. C., Mills, S., Pigazzi, A., Stamos, M. J. (2013). Colonic volvulus in the United States: Trends, outcomes and predictors of mortality. Annals of Surgery. doi:10.1097/SLA.obo13e31828c88ac.
Mallick, I. H., & Winslet, M. C. (2004). Ileosigmoid knotting. Colorectal Disease, 6(4), 220–225.
Türkmen, N., Eren, B., Fedakar, R., & Bulut, M. (2008). Mesenteric volvulus in children: Two autopsy cases and review of the literature. Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, 20(2), 133–135.
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Becheanu, G. (2017). Volvulus. In: Carneiro, F., Chaves, P., Ensari, A. (eds) Pathology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1548
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1548
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Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
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