Emptiness of the left iliac fossa: a new clinical sign of sigmoid volvulus

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS) With Sigmoid Volvulus (SV): Lost Hours Are Lost Lives

Normal intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) ranges from 0 to 5, and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) occurs when a sustained IAP >20 mmHg causes organ dysfunction. ACS mainly occurs in patients who are critically ill. It occurs due to an injury or disease in the abdomen or pelvic area, including trauma, abdominal surgery, acute pancreatitis, pancreatic ileus, volvulus, fecal impaction, and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. If not recognized early, ACS leads to multiorgan dysfunction, shock, and sepsis and has high morbidity and mortality. Our patient was brought to the emergency department (ED) following cardiac arrest and resuscitation and was diagnosed with sigmoid volvulus (SV) and ACS. SV is seen in older men, and its presentation is often insidious and leads to bowel gangrene and ACS. The patient's delay in presenting to the hospital and the severity of his condition leads to a poor outcome despite surgery. A delay in recognizing ACS can lead to a worse outcome.

Sigmoid volvulus in young patients: Ą new twist on an old diagnosis

According to the literature, sigmoid volvulus typically develops in patients of an older age with co-morbidities such as a psychiatric illness or a bed-bound chronic illness. Recent reports suggest that it should also be considered in young individuals without any preceding medical history. Abdominal roentgenography is a cheap and effective diagnostic modality that can avoid a delay in diagnosis. The treatment of colonic volvulus remains controversial and relies upon the procedure selected and the most appropriate therapeutic approach in terms of the clinical status of the patient, the location of the problem, the suspected existence or identification of peritonitis, bowel viability, and the expertise of the surgical team. Presented here are four cases of young male patients with sigmoid volvulus. All of the patients were diagnosed radiologically prior to surgical intervention. Two of the patients initially underwent an endoscopic procedure that succeeded in one and that failed in the other. Three of the patients underwent a laparotomy.

Sigmoid volvulus: diagnosis in 938 patients over 45.5 years

BACKGROUND

Sigmoid volvulus (SV) is the wrapping of the sigmoid colon around itself and its mesentery. The goal of this study was to investigate the diagnosis approach to 938 patients with SV treated at our institution and their clinical outcomes.

METHODS

The clinical records of 938 patients with SV treated at our institution between June 1966 and January 2012 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

The mean age was 58.6 years (range 10 weeks to 98 years), and 774 patients (82.5 %) were male. A total of 210 (25.1 %) of 837 patients, who provided information on anamnesis and clinical features, had recurrent episodes of volvulus; 215 patients (25.7 %) had comorbidities, and 108 patients (12.9 %) presented with toxic or hypovolemic shock. The mean duration of symptoms was 38.7 h (range 6 h to 7 days), and the most common clinical features were abdominal pain and tenderness (827 of 837 patients, 98.8 %), distention (805 patients, 96.2 %), and obstipation (771 patients, 92.1 %). The final diagnosis was made with endoscopy in 519 patients (55.3 %), endoscopy followed by surgery in 154 patients (16.4 %) and at surgery in 265 patients (28.3 %). The correct diagnosis rate was 71.6 % based on clinical findings compared with 66.7 % based on plain X-ray films, 81.4 % based on both clinical and plain X-ray findings, and 100.0 % based on CT or MRI findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Sigmoid volvulus is common in adult men. The disease is generally associated with recurrent episodes, comorbidity, and shock. SV generally presents as a large-bowel obstruction. Although plain X-rays may help with diagnosis, CT and MRI are more reliable diagnostic tools, and flexible endoscopy is always diagnostic. However, surgery is used to diagnose SV in limited situations.

Article Commentary: The Twisted Colon: A Review of Sigmoid Volvulus

Sigmoid volvulus (SV) is the third leading cause of colon obstruction in adults. In infants and children, it is exceedingly rare with only sporadic cases reported so far. SVs from secondary causes, with congenital megacolon being the most important, are nevertheless more common in young people. The etiology of this disorder is not completely understood. It is known to occur in the setting of redundant sigmoid loop, which rotates around its narrow and elongated mesentery. Although the latter occurs in the setting of constipation, a congenitally elongated colon, and other predisposing factors, there is no consensus on the precipitating factor leading to SV formation. The symptoms are suggestive of small bowel obstruction, but the presentations can be acute or indolent. Plain abdominal radiography is used to diagnose SV in most cases with computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging as the confirmatory tests when necessary. After it has been untwisted, the definitive and standard therapy for SV is sigmoid resection and primary anastomosis. The nonresective alternatives have also been widely used with mixed success, but a large, randomized controlled trial is needed to compare their efficacy with resection and primary anastomosis. Laparoscopic surgery in SV management is unwarranted and costly. Complications of SV include hemorrhagic infarction, perforation, septic shock, and death. The mortality data from SV vary, but the latest literature cites an overall range of 14 to 45 per cent.

Sigmoid volvulus

In sigmoid volvulus (SV), the sigmoid colon wraps around itself and its mesentery. SV accounts for 2% to 50% of all colonic obstructions and has an interesting geographic dispersion. SV generally affects adults, and it is more common in males. The etiology of SV is multifactorial and controversial; the main symptoms are abdominal pain, distention, and constipation, while the main signs are abdominal distention and tenderness. Routine laboratory findings are not pathognomonic: Plain abdominal X-ray radiographs show a dilated sigmoid colon and multiple small or large intestinal air-fluid levels, and abdominal CT and MRI demonstrate a whirled sigmoid mesentery. Flexible endoscopy shows a spiral sphincter-like twist of the mucosa. The diagnosis of SV is established by clinical, radiological, endoscopic, and sometimes operative findings. Although flexible endoscopic detorsion is advocated as the primary treatment choice, emergency surgery is required for patients who present with peritonitis, bowel gangrene, or perforation or for patients whose non-operative treatment is unsuccessful. Although emergency surgery includes various non-definitive or definitive procedures, resection with primary anastomosis is the most commonly recommended procedure. After a successful non-operative detorsion, elective sigmoid resection and anastomosis is recommended. The overall mortality is 10% to 50%, while the overall morbidity is 6% to 24%.

Sigmoid volvulus in the Middle East

Little is known about sigmoid volvulus in the Middle East despite textbooks referring to the region as part of the "volvulus belt." Our objectives were to assess the prevalence, clinical presentations, radiological findings, operative treatments, and postoperative outcomes of patients managed for sigmoid volvulus in Jordan as a model for the region. The medical records of patients with large bowel obstruction who were managed at King Abdullah University Hospital and its affiliated institutes, northern Jordan, over a 6-year period between January 2001 and January 2007 were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients with a confirmed diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus. Sigmoid volvulus was responsible for 9.2% of all cases of large bowel obstruction seen during the study period. There were 32 patients with sigmoid volvulus, 24 (75%) of whom were men. The median age of the patients was 59 years (range 21-83 years). Abdominal pain and distention were the main presentations. Colonoscopic detorsion was applied in 25 patients, which was achieved in 17 (68%) of them after the first attempt. Six patients had a gangrenous sigmoid colon, four of which required resection and a Hartmann procedure. Sigmoid resection with primary anastomosis was performed in 28 patients, including 2 with a gangrenous colon. Postoperative complications were observed in five patients, including one patient with viable colon who develop an anastomotic leak. Two patients died, making the mortality rate 6%. Sigmoid volvulus is uncommon in Jordan. Resection of the sigmoid colon with primary anastomosis appears to be the preferred procedure.

Sigmoid volvulus: diagnostic twists and turns

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical profile of patients with sigmoid volvulus and highlight the diagnostic difficulties and pitfalls.

METHODS

This was a retrospective descriptive study of patients with sigmoid volvulus seen at a community hospital over a 5-year period from July 1999 to July 2004.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight cases of sigmoid volvulus were identified, of which 16 were male and 12 female. The median age was 74 years. Twenty-seven were Chinese and one was Malay. Seven out of 28 patients were from nursing institutes while the rest came from their own homes. Eleven were bedridden and chronic constipation was a problem for 17 patients. Co-existing medical illnesses, including neuropsychiatric conditions, were common. Abdominal distension and pain were the most frequent presentations (26 and 21 patients, respectively). Twelve patients had constipation and 11 had diarrhoea. Only nine had the complete typical triad of abdominal distension, pain and constipation. The classical coffee-bean sign was identified in nine out of 26 initial plain abdominal radiographs done at the emergency department and a further 11 were diagnosed after review by the surgical team in the ward. Another four were identified only after computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis. The remaining two patients were diagnosed intra-operatively after they underwent emergency laparotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

As our aged population continues to grow, sigmoid volvulus may be more commonly encountered. Emergency physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion and avoid the pitfalls so as to prevent delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Sigmoid volvulus in rural Bengal

Between January 1995 and December 2000, 197 patients (44.97%) were treated for sigmoid volvulus at Bankura Medical College and Hospital, Bankura, West Bengal, India. The mean age was 45.06 years and the male to female ratio was 2.07:1. The various aetiological factors, clinical features and management have been reviewed. Abdominal distension with obstipation was the common clinical presentation. Straight X-ray of the abdomen suggested the diagnosis. Management included celiotomy and primary resection and anastomosis without intra-operative lavage in 196 patients and sigmoidopexy in one patient. The overall mortality rate was 1.01%. There was only one recurrence in the patients who had undergone sigmoidopexy. Primary resection and anastomosis at initial presentation proved a safe operative treatment and avoided unnecessary repeated hospitalization.