Ninety percent of cases of malrotation have shown signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction by the first year of life. It is thus an often-overlooked etiology in adult patients. Evidence-based recommendations are also limited because of the paucity of cases. This paper discusses the two cases of malrotation from diagnosis to surgical management at a tertiary academic hospital. Both are previously well adult male patients with virgin abdomen who presented with vomiting and signs of intestinal obstruction. During medical decompression, CT scan with triple contrast clinched the diagnosis of malrotation for which Ladd's procedure was done, with no operative complications. The authors' experience and previous literature support early decompression, imaging, and surgery for all cases of malrotation regardless of severity of symptoms.
bowel obstruction

A variety of common and some not common gastrointestinal syndromes are thought to be based on impaired gut motility. For some, the role of motility is well defined, for others and the functional gastrointestinal disorders, in particular, the role of hypo- or dysmotility remains unclear. Over the years pharmacological and physiological laboratories have developed drugs which stimulate gut motility; many have been evaluated in motility and functional disorders with what can best be described as mixed results. Lack of receptor specificity and resultant expected and unexpected adverse events have led to the demise of some of these agents. Newer, more selective agents offer promise but the heterogeneity of the clinical disorders they target continues to pose a formidable challenge to drug development in this area.
Constipation ; Dyspepsia ; Gastrointestinal Diseases* ; Gastroparesis ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Population Characteristics ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Human colonic motor activity is quite a complex issue and is a relatively difficult topic to investigate, still only partly understood and investigated, due to anatomic and physiological difficulties. Colonic motility measurement are hampered by the relative inaccessibility of the colon, especially in the unprepared state. Major motor events are infrequent, necessitating long observation periods. Moreover, correlating intraluminal pressure changes with stool transport is difficult. Disturbances of normal colonic motor activity may interfere with healthy colonic physiologic function. The pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for colonic motility disorders are still less understood. In recent years, however, some more data have been obtained, even in proximal segments. These data have helped in elucidating, although only in part, some pathophysiological mechanisms of colonic motility disorders. In this review article, after a brief of relevant normal aspects of colorectal motility in man, we limit our discussion to more common motility disorders involving the colon and rectum. In particular, what is known or hypothesized regarding the underlying pathophysiology of slow-transit constipation, diverticular diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal pseudo-obstruction is reviewed.
Colon* ; Constipation ; Humans ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Motor Activity ; Rectum

PURPOSE: A paraduodenal hernia is an uncommon congenital disease that manifests as an intestinal obstruction, which may lead to strangulation and, subsequently, result in gangrene of the intestine. In this retrospective study, 12 paraduodenal hernia cases were evaluated and the clinical prognostic factors investigated. METHODS: Paraduodenal hernias leading to intestinal obstructions were noted in 12 patients. The patients were retrospectively evaluated with respect to signs and symptoms. The laboratory and radiological findings, type of operation, time elapsed between the onset of symptoms and laparotomy and postoperative complications and hospital stays were also reviewed. The relationships between clinical factors and outcomes were also statistically evaluated. RESULTS: In our series, postoperative short bowel syndrome was encountered in one patient (case 1) with bowel strangulation, but there were no mortalities. The time elapsed between the onset of symptoms and laparotomy was found to be longer in the patients with strangulation than in those without (6.8+/-4.5 day versus 4.1+/-3.6 day). Additionally, the postoperative hospital stay was longer in those patients with strangulation (24.4+/-11.6 day versus 15.3+/-7.7 day), but the relationship was not statistically significant (P=0.283 and 0.130, respectively). CONCLUSION: Since the preoperative diagnosis of a paraduodenal hernia is very difficult, due to the lack of specific signs and symptoms, the postoperative complications can only be decreased with early surgical intervention in those patients with an acute intestinal obstruction. Although the postoperative morbidity and mortality were not correlated with any of the factors evaluated in this study, further study will be needed to evaluate the significance of the time elapsed between the onset of symptoms and a laparotomy as a prognostic factor.
Diagnosis ; Gangrene ; Hernia* ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Intestines ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Short Bowel Syndrome

In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections could aggravate the course of IBD but it is difficult to distinguish CMV infection from IBD exacerbation endoscopically. Usually, CMV tends to localize to the colon and other organic involvements were reported very rare in the IBD patients. Herein, we report a case that CMV gastric ulcer complicated with pyloric obstruction in a patient with ulcerative colitis during ganciclovir therapy, which was resolved by surgical gastrojejunostomy with review of literature.
Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Colon ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Ganciclovir ; Gastric Bypass ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Stomach Ulcer* ; Ulcer*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of MR imaging for diseases of the small intestine, emphasizing a comparison with CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients who underwent both CT and MR imaging using FLASH 2D and HASTE sequences were analyzed. All patients had various small bowel diseases with variable association of peritoneal lesions. We compared the detectabilities of CT and MR imaging using different MR pulse sequences. The capability for analyzing the characteristics of small intestinal disease was also compared. RESULTS: MR imaging was nearly equal to CT for detecting intraluminal or peritoneal masses, lesions in the bowel and mesentery, and small bowel obstruction, but was definitely inferior for detecting omental lesions. The most successful MR imaging sequence was HASTE for demonstrating bowel wall thickening, coronal FLASH 2D for mesenteric lesions, and axial FLASH 2D for omental lesions. MR imaging yielded greater information than CT in six of 12 inflammatory bowel diseases, while it was equal to CT in six of seven neoplasms and inferior in five of seven mesenteric ischemia. In determining the primary causes of 15 intestinal obstructions, MR imaging was correct in 11 (73%) and CT in nine (60%) patients. CONCLUSION: MR imaging can serve as an alternative diagnostic tool for patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease, small intestinal neoplasm or obstruction. is a high-speed, heavily T2-weighted sequence with a great sensitivity for fluid (11). This advance may make it possible to use breath-hold turbo spin-echo MR.
Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*diagnosis ; Intestinal Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Intestinal Obstruction/*diagnosis ; Intestine, Small/*pathology ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Age ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The human cytomegalovirus (CMV), a member of the herpes virus family, can cause a lifelong infection with episodes of endogenous reactivation. Almost the entire adult Korean population has been infected with CMV; they have serum CMV antibodies of IgG class. Reactivation is clinically silent in immunocompetent individuals. Symptomatic illness, such as pneumonitis, retinitis, hepatitis or gastroenteritis, is usually confined to immunocompromized patients. The colon, stomach and esophagus are the organs frequently infected with CMV in these patients. A CMV infection may also complicate an inflammatory bowel disease. CMV enteritis involving the small bowel, which makes up less than 10% of the CMV gastroenteritis cases, usually presents with diarrhea, bleeding and perforation, but rarely evokes obstruction. The authors experienced a case of CMV enteritis of the terminal ileum, presenting as an intestinal obstruction, which developed in an immunocompetent individual with no underlying disease. This appears to be a world first.
Adult ; Antibodies ; Colon ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Diarrhea ; Enteritis ; Esophagus ; Gastroenteritis ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Ileum ; Immunoglobulin G ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Pneumonia ; Retinitis ; Stomach

Solin(R) (oral sodium phosphate) is a commonly used osmotic laxative solution that has replaced polyethylene glycol in bowel preparation for colonoscopy as it has equal or greater efficacy and patient compliance. However, its use has been associated with several cases of acute renal failure and electrolyte imbalance, especially hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia. Those at higher risk of complications are patients who are older and have intestinal obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease, renal failure, or congestive heart failure. We report the case of a 61-year-old woman presenting with paresthesia in both hands after using Solin(R) for bowel preparation for colonoscopy. The patient had hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia combined with acute renal failure. She recovered from the renal failure and electrolyte imbalance with intravenous hydration and treatment with phosphate-binding agents.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Hand ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hyperphosphatemia ; Hypocalcemia ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Middle Aged ; Paresthesia ; Patient Compliance ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Renal Insufficiency ; Sodium

PURPOSE: Ileostomy may affect various aspects of life style of the patient. Moreover the complication after ileostomy formation or closure may lower the life quality of the patient. The purpose of this study is to investigate ileostomy related complications and elucidate associated factors. METHODS: We recruited 103 patients who underwent ileostomy in Asan Medical Center between July 1989 and June 2000. All ileostomies are constructed through the rectus muscle at the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. To mnimize peristomal skin irritation, at least two to three centimeters of the ileum lies above the skin level. We analyzed complications after ileostomy formation in relation to underlying diseases, types and purpose of ileostomy. Also, we analyzed complication after ileostomy closure in relation to underlying diseases, time interval and method of take-down. Results are compared using chi-square test. Statistical significance was assigned to a P value of<0.05. RESULTS: Complications of ileostomy formation were developed in 17 (16.5%) cases; 8 peristomal dermatitis, 3 wound infection, 2 prolapse, 1 stenosis, 1 perforation, 1 bleeding, 1 high output ileostomy. There was no significant difference of complication rate in relation to underlying diseases, types and purpose of ileostomy. Ileostomy take-down was performed in 55 (53.4%) cases of 103 patients. Complications related with ileostomy take-down were developed in 18 (32.7%) cases; 7 wound infection, 5 intestinal obstruction, 2 incisional hernia, 2 enterocutaneous fistula, 1 anastomosis leakage, 1 bleeding. There was no significant difference of complication rate in relation to time interval or method of take-down. However, complication rate of ileostomy take-down was significantly increased in patient with inflammatory bowel disease. CONCLUSIONS: Ileostomy formation is simple and safe surgical procedure. We couldn't find any factor affecting the morbidity of ileostomy formation or closure. However, complication rate after ileostomy closure, especially in patient with inflammatory bowel disease, is relatively high.
Abdomen ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dermatitis ; Hemorrhage ; Hernia ; Humans ; Ileostomy* ; Ileum ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Fistula ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Life Style ; Prolapse ; Quality of Life ; Skin ; Wound Infection

Inflammatory bowel disease has a potential risk of developing colorectal cancer. However, there is little causal relationship between intestinal tuberculosis and colon cancer because intestinal tuberculosis is curable disease and has relatively short disease course. But there were a few case reports of intestinal tuberculosis associated with colon cancer. Diffuse infiltrating colon cancer, characterized by tumor cells in the presence of inflammatory changes with much fibrosis, is very rare in the colon. We experienced a 49-year-old woman who had tuberculous colitis combined with diffuse infiltrative colon cancer. She visited our hospital because of chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain. Colonoscopy showed multiple geographic ulcers in the transverse colon and partial intestinal obstruction. Histological examination revealed non-caseating granuloma and Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured in biopsied tissue. She took an anti-tuberculosis drug for 2 weeks, but her symptoms were aggravated. Therefore, extended right hemicolectomy was performed and revealed mucin-secreting, diffuse infiltrating adenocarcinoma. Herein, we report a rare case of diffuse infiltrative colon cancer coexisting with colonic tuberculosis with a review of liferatures.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis* ; Ulcer