Sigmoid volvulus in pregnancy and puerperium: a surgical and obstetric catastrophe. Report of a case and review of the world literature

Recurrent sigmoid volvulus: Cause of colon perforation, sepsis, and fetal death

Sigmoid volvulus is one of the most common reasons for intestinal obstruction. Recurrent sigmoid volvulus occurred in only a few cases. Torsion of the sigmoid colon around the mesenteric portion initiates ischemia, gangrene, and perforation. Here, we presented a case with recurrent sigmoid volvulus. A 19-year-old Syrian refugee has been admitted to emergency room during 30th gestation week with acute abdomen, constipation, and lack of gas passage. She had a medical history of rectosigmoidoscopy and detorsion of sigmoid volvulus 6 days ago. Her vital signs showed tachycardia, hypotension, and tachypne, and her body temperature was 35.6°C. Sonography revealed nonviable fetus. Emergency laparotomy has been performed. Sigmoid volvulus and contaminated intraperitoneal area with feces was evaluated. A cesarean section, total colectomy, and end-ileostomy have been performed. Patient stayed 3 days in intensive care unit and was discharged on the 17th day. Sigmoid volvulus is a real emergency. Delayed treatment of sigmoid volvulus is related to maternal and fetal mortality.

Sigmoid Volvulus in Pregnancy Assessed by Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography Scanning

Sigmoid volvulus requires urgent treatment, and it is particularly rare among pregnant women without a history of laparotomy. A delay in diagnosis may lead to serious consequences for the mother and fetus, and a rapid diagnosis and treatment in this setting is essential. The patient was a 19-year-old primiparous woman. She complained of repeated exacerbations and remissions of abrupt lower abdominal pain for the past 2 days and was transported to our hospital at 33 weeks of gestation. Ultrasonography revealed no placental thickening, and maternal bowel dilation was difficult to identify. Plain abdominal X-ray showed a dilated colon on the left side of the abdomen. Contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen revealed a volvulus on the dorsal side of the uterus. The proximal end of the transverse to sigmoid colon was markedly dilated, and the distal end was collapsed. The elevated lactate level on blood gas analysis suggested intestinal ischemia. She was suspected of having a sigmoid volvulus at 33 weeks and 3 days of gestation. We decided to perform a cesarean section to secure the operative field for an intestinal resection following delivery. A male weighing 1840 g with Apgar scores 8/8 was delivered. The sigmoid colon was approximately 80 cm in length. A 360-degree clockwise rotation of was observed with a very distended but viable sigmoid loop. Following reduction of the volvulus, the sigmoid colon was fixed to the left side of the peritoneum. The mother had an uneventful postoperative course, and the infant was discharged without any sequelae. This case demonstrates two important lessons. First, sigmoid volvulus can occur in pregnant women even if they never had a laparotomy. Second, abdominal contrast-enhanced CT is useful for rapid diagnostic and treatment decisions relative to this pathology.

Different clinicopathological features of non-elderly sigmoid volvulus patients

PURPOSE

Sigmoid volvulus is frequently seen in male patients over 60 years old. Here, we aimed to investigate the causes of sigmoid volvulus developing in patients under 60 years of age.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with sigmoid volvulus between 2009 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two as under 60 years old and above. The co-morbidity, mortality, morbidity, complications, age, and gender data were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 134 patients were included. The median age was 70 (19-92), ≤ 59 age patients constituted 24% of all patients. Eighty-one percent (109/134) of the patients were male, and male/female ratio was lower in ≤ 59 age patients (2.0 vs 6.2, p = 0.01). Diseases that caused and underlying colon dilatation (mental retardation with hypomotility, pregnancy-puerperium, Hirschsprung's disease, etc.) were more common in ≤ 59 age patients, but no observed at 60≤ age patients (15.2% vs 0%, p = 0.0007). While there was no difference between the two groups in terms of mortality, it was proportionally higher in the 60≤ age group (3.0% vs. 13.9%, p = 0.12).

CONCLUSION

By decreasing age, male dominance disappears progressively, and it is likely to have an underlying colonic hypomotility in young sigmoid volvulus patients.

Recurrent Volvulus during Pregnancy: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction

Sigmoid colon volvulus (SV) represents the most common etiology of antepartum gastrointestinal obstruction, with repetitive antepartum episodes rarely reported.

Case Presentation

A 25-year-old multiparous patient with history of SV at 26 weeks in her previous pregnancy presented with recurrent episodes of SV at 32 0/7, 32 4/7, 37 0/7, and 38 1/7 weeks successfully managed with colonoscopic decompression. Labor was successfully induced at 38 4/7 weeks, and she experienced two further episodes on postpartum days #1 and #32 also treated with colonoscopic decompression, followed by laparoscopic resection.

Conclusion

Successful treatment of antepartum SV with colonoscopic decompression does not preclude recurrence later in gestation and in future pregnancies.

Sigmoid Volvulus Complicating Postpartum Period

Background. Sigmoid volvulus is a rare complication of pregnancy and the puerperium. Case. A 19-year-old patient, gravida 1 para 0 at 41 0/7 weeks of gestation, admitted for late-term induction of labor underwent an uncomplicated primary low transverse cesarean delivery for arrest of descent. Her postoperative period was complicated by sudden onset of abdominal pain and the ultimate diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus. Conclusion. Prompt surgical evaluation of an acute abdomen in the postpartum period is essential; delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to significant maternal morbidity and mortality.

Intestinal malrotation complicated by an occlusive syndrome involving internal hernia in a pregnant woman

We present the case of a 33-year-old female who presented intestinal obstruction at the 7th month of pregnancy. She was complaining of abdominal pain with paroxysms, nausea and vomiting. When the symptoms worsened, we performed a CT-scan, which revealed suspected intestinal obstruction in a context of intestinal malrotation (IM). Conservative therapy failed and she required emergency laparotomy beginning with a caesarean section. The surgery revealed a peritoneal defect due to the IM through which the jejunum and ileum were incarcerated and strangulated. The incarcerated bowel was reduced and intestinal colour quickly returned to normal. Primary closure of the peritoneal defect was thus performed and the post-operative course was uneventful for the mother and the baby, who was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Sigmoid volvulus in pregnancy: case report and review of literature

Sigmoid volvulus in pregnancy is a very rare condition. Despite this, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion of this condition if they encounter a pregnant woman with symptoms suggestive of bowel obstruction. Incorrect diagnosis may be catastrophic, resulting in major complications, including fetal and maternal death.

Sigmoid volvulus during pregnancy: A rare non-obstetric complication. Report of a case and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Sigmoid volvulus is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction during pregnancy associated with high maternal and foetal mortality. Effective management represents a challenge due to delayed presentation, obstructive symptoms regarded as pregnancy-related and hesitation in using radiological evaluation.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report a case of a lady, pregnant for 26 weeks and with a 5 day history of abdominal pain and constipation. She underwent concomitant caesarean section and laparotomy for intestinal obstruction. Intra-operatively, the sigmoid colon was extensively dilated and gangrenous. The ischemic colon was resected and a Hartmann's procedure was performed. A preterm male child was delivered and admitted to neonatal intensive care. The post operative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged home on the 9th post-operative day. Six months later she underwent an uneventful reversal of the Hartmann's procedure.

DISCUSSION

Sigmoid volvulus is the most common cause of bowel obstruction during pregnancy, accounting for up to 44% of reported cases. We have reviewed the available literature on this topic and present another case managed at our institution.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus in pregnancy is a challenge, but a delay in diagnosis increases the rates of feto-maternal mortality. A high incidence of clinical suspicion and timely surgical intervention are the key to a favourable outcome.

Pregnancy with sigmoid volvulus: A case report with literature review

Sigmoid volvulus refers to torsion of a segment of the alimentary tract, which often leads to bowel obstruction and ischemic changes. Sigmoid volvulus is an acute surgical emergency because delay in diagnosis and management can cause adverse maternal and fetal complications. Sigmoid volvulus typically presents with acute-on-chronic abdominal distension that may develop slowly over 3-4 days. An early and effective resuscitation with fluid replacement, electrolyte balance correction, prophylactic antibiotics and nasogastric decompression is necessary. The standard goals of treatment are to relieve the obstruction, avoid colonic ischemia, and prevent recurrence either by endoscopic decompression or resection with primary anastomosis. A pregnant woman with sigmoid volvulus at 34 weeks and 1 day of gestation presented to our hospital with abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. The patient was jointly surgically managed with laparotomy, cesarean section, and detorsion of the sigmoid volvulus, and was discharged in a healthy state on the 5^th postoperative day.

Case Report: Jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumour, a rare tumour, with a challenging diagnosis and a successful treatment

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are rare. GISTs comprise 0.2% of gastrointestinal tumours and only 0.04% of small intestinal tumours. Jejunal GISTs are the rarest subtype. Only 10–30% progress to malignancy [Choi (Response evaluation of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Oncologist 2008;13:4–7)]. We present a 70-year-old male, with multiple co-morbidities, who had extensive investigations over 5 years for vague abdominal pain. All investigations were normal. He presented with symptoms and signs of small bowel obstruction (SBO), confirmed on a computed tomography scan and demonstrated to be secondary to lesion-induced intussusception. The patient had emergency small bowel resection, was discharged after 4 days and remains well. This case report highlights the rarity of jejunal GISTs and, as extensive initial investigation yielded all false-negative results, indicates the difficulty in diagnosing jejunal GISTs. Adhesions are the commonest cause of SBO in patients with previous abdominal surgery, followed by newly diagnosed malignancies [Beardsley et al. (Small bowel obstruction in the virgin abdomen: the need for a mandatory laparotomy explored. Am J Surg 2014;208:243–8)]. Consequently, in patients with a virgin abdomen, underlying tumours should be considered.

Endoscopic reduction of a volvulus of the sigmoid colon in pregnancy: case report and a comprehensive review of the literature

Sigmoid volvulus is a rare, but serious, complication that can occur during pregnancy. We present a case of a 33-year-old pregnant female in the third trimester with a sigmoid volvulus. Detorsion of the volvulus was performed during colonoscopy. The patient underwent an elective sigmoidectomy at a later date. Prompt diagnosis of the volvulus sigmoid is critical to minimize fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Sigmoidoscopic detorsion or surgical resection are the treatment options, depending on bowel viability. A review of the literature was done.