Mesenteroaxial gastric volvulus in a 12 Year female child: A rare case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Gastric volvulus is an abnormal rotation of all or part of the stomach around one of its axes. It is a rare clinical entity and a potentially life-threatening condition. Mesenteroaxial volvulus is a less commonly encountered variant of gastric volvulus. The objective of this study was to describe a rare case of Mesenteroaxial volvulus in a 12-year-old female child.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 12-year-old female child presented with a complaint of severe abdominal pain of two days duration associated with abdominal distention, failure to pass faeces and flatus, difficulty of breathing, and bloating. The vital sign was blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg, pulse rate of 130 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 29 breaths per minute, and temperature 37.8 degree Celsius. On abdominal examination, there was distension, hyperactive bowel sound, tenderness, and splenomegaly. Exploratory laparotomy was done and the intraoperative finding was gastric volvulus with Mesentroaxial type which was slightly ischemic with poor ligamentous attachment. Decompression with a Nasogastric tube (NGT) and gastropexy was done. The child was discharged on the 6th postoperative day.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Gastric volvulus is an abnormal rotation of the stomach on horizontal or vertical axes causing various degrees of obstruction. Mesenteroaxial volvulus is most commonly seen in young children and is associated with ligamentous laxity.

CONCLUSION

Gastric volvulus causes grave complications and death if not recognized early or surgical intervention is taken timely. Though it is a rare clinical entity, the primary physician should be aware of the clinical presentation.