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Review
. 2012 Dec;25(4):236-44.
doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1329535.

Management of colonic volvulus

Daniel Gingold  1 , Zuri Murrell
Affiliations
Review

Management of colonic volvulus

Daniel Gingold et al. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Colonic volvulus is a common cause of large bowel obstruction worldwide. It can affect all parts of the colon, but most commonly occurs in the sigmoid and cecal areas. This disease has been described for centuries, and was studied by Hippocrates himself. Currently, colonic volvulus is the third most common cause of large bowel obstruction worldwide, and is responsible for ∼15% of large bowel obstructions in the United States. This article will discuss the history of colonic volvulus, and the predisposing factors that lead to this disease. Moreover, the epidemiology and diagnosis of each type of colonic volvulus, along with the various treatment options will be reviewed.

Keywords: cecopexy; decompression; fixation; resection; volvulus.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Cecal volvulus. Source: Consorti and Liu. (B) Cecal bascule. Reproduced with permission from Consorti and Liu.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Ileosigmoid knot. These schematic illustrations indicate the four forms of knotting. The active ileum may rotate around the sigmoid colon in either a clockwise (A) or counterclockwise (B) direction. Much more infrequently, the sigmoid colon may act as the active loop and rotate in either a clockwise (C) or counterclockwise (D) direction around the ileum. Source: From Beck DE, Rombeau JL, Stamos MJ, Wexner SD, eds. The ASCRS Manual of Colon and Rectal Surgery. 1st ed. New York: Springer; 2009: 426. Reprinted here with permission.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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