Volvulus of the splenic flexure of the colon.

Author: Young Up CHO ¹ ; Seung Kook SOHN ; Hoon Sang CHI ; Ki Whang KIM
Author Information

1. Department of Surgery, Yong-Dong Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Publication Type:Case Report
Keywords: Volvulus; barium enema and surgery
MeSH: Adult; Barium Sulfate/diagnostic use; Case Report; Colonic Diseases/*radiography; Female; Human; Intestinal Obstruction/*radiography
From:Yonsei Medical Journal 1994;35(1):97-100
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: The definition of volvulus is an axial twist of a portion of the gastrointestinal tract along its mesentery. The involved bowel is obstructed partially or completely with a variable degree of arterial and venous occlusion. The colon is the most common site for volvulus. The splenic flexure is the least common site of colonic volvulus. We experienced a case of the volvulus of the splenic flexure. It will be the 30th case of the volvulus involving the splenic flexure in the English literature, to our knowledge. A 30-year-old woman was admitted due to abdominal pain and distention with vomiting. An emergency barium study revealed characteristic "bird beak" sign. Surgery was performed resecting the involved colon of splenic flexure. The result was excellent.