Paediatric caecal volvulus with perforation and faecal peritonitis

A systematic review of the management and outcomes of cecal and appendiceal volvulus in children

AIM

Appendiceal volvulus (AV) and cecal volvulus (CV) are rare conditions and there is no consensus regarding the best surgical approach. This study reviewed CV and AV management and outcomes in children.

METHODS

PubMed was reviewed from 1990 to 2018 for AV and CV in children and studies published in English were selected by two independent reviewers. This identified 24 papers that provided case reports on 29 children (72% male) with a median age of 10 years.

RESULTS

Abdominal distension and abdominal pain were the most common symptoms and seven children had Cornelia de Lange syndrome. The initial treatment was surgical in 27 cases and endoscopic in 2. In 23 children, variants of cecopexy were performed. There was no mortality. Complications occurred in seven cases: five with sepsis and two with enterocutaneous fistulas. There were three CV recurrences and these were all in cases where cecopexy was not performed.

CONCLUSION

AV and CV are rare paediatric pathologies. Since a quarter of the patients had Cornelia de Lange syndrome, it is paramount to consider CV when abdominal symptoms occur. Complications were minor with prompt management. In order to reduce recurrence, cecopexy is recommended in CV cases and appendectomy in AV cases.

Sigmoid volvulus in an adolescent girl: staged management with emergency colonoscopic reduction and decompression followed by elective sigmoid colectomy

A case of acute sigmoid volvulus in a 14-year-old adolescent girl presenting with acute low large bowel obstruction with a background of chronic constipation has been presented. Abdominal radiograph and CT scan helped in diagnosis. She underwent emergency colonoscopic detorsion and decompression uneventfully. Lower gastrointestinal contrast study showed very redundant sigmoid colonic loop without any transition zone and she subsequently underwent elective sigmoid colectomy with good outcome. The sigmoid volvulus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of paediatric acute abdomen presenting with marked abdominal distention, absolute constipation and pain but without vomiting. Plain abdominal radiograph and the CT scan are helpful to confirm the diagnosis. Early colonoscopic detorsion and decompression allows direct visualisation of the vascular compromise, assessment of band width of the volvulus and can reduce complications and mortality. Associated Hirschsprung's disease should be suspected if clinical and radiological features are suggestive in which case a rectal biopsy before definitive surgery should be considered.