Gastric volvulus associated with wandering spleen in a child

Abstract

Wandering spleen is an uncommon entity in childhood and has been described only rarely in association with gastric volvulus. Wandering spleen and gastric volvulus were diagnosed in a 5-year-old boy who presented with acute abdominal pain and distension. Intraoperatively, normal ligamentous connections between the stomach, spleen, and posterior abdominal wall were absent. Developmental anomalies that result in wandering spleen may lead to hypermobility of the stomach and a predisposition to gastric volvulus. In such patients, prophylactic gastropexy should be considered.