UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Gastrointestional

Title: Volvulus Quick Facts

Keywords: Volvulus, Cause, (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/17/2007 by Michael Bond, MD (Updated: 4/26/2024)
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Volvulus Quick Facts

Volvulus causes 10-15% of large bowel obstructions and occurs most commonly in the elderly.
The most common type of volvulus is sigmoid volvulus.
Midgut volvulus is most common in the neonatal period.
Cecal volvulus:
- Occurs in all ages, but most commonly in the 25- to 35-year-old age group
- Associated with:
  - previous abdominal surgeries
  - young, healthy marathon runners.
Sigmoid volvulus most commonly occurs in two groups of individuals:
- Inactive elderly persons with a history of severe chronic constipation
- Patients with severe psychiatric or neurologic disease.