A RARE METACHRONOUS COLONIC VOLVULUS

P A Ekhaiyeme; N A Olagunju; O A Ajagbe; O J Bello; P H Yatu; O Afuwape; D O Irabor

A RARE METACHRONOUS COLONIC VOLVULUS

Ann Ib Postgrad Med. 2023 Aug;21(2):81-83. Epub 2023 Nov 1.

Authors

P A Ekhaiyeme¹, N A Olagunju¹, O A Ajagbe¹, O J Bello¹, P H Yatu¹, O Afuwape^{1

2}, D O Irabor^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
² College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

PMID: 38298341
PMCID: PMC10811709

Abstract

Introduction: Colonic volvulus is a common cause of large bowel obstruction with the sigmoid colon most commonly affected. Volvulus of the transverse colon is an uncommon occurrence. Rarer still is a transverse colon volvulus developing after surgery for a sigmoid colon volvulus. Early diagnosis is critical as delay in detection and intervention is associated with the risk of complications - perforation, peritonitis, and death.

Case presentation: We report the case of an 86-year-old man who presented with features of large bowel obstruction 14 months following a sigmoid colectomy for a sigmoid colon volvulus.

Conclusion: A metachronous transverse colonic volvulus is uncommon. Preoperative diagnosis is challenging as there are no defining radiographic features compared to the volvulus of the sigmoid colon with the classical omega sign. Most cases are diagnosed intra-operatively. Bowel resection and anastomosis in a single stage is a safe option.

Keywords: Metachronous; Sigmoid colon; Transverse colon; Volvulus.