Two Cases of Primary Volvulus of the Small Intestine in Elderly Patients

Katsunori Matsuzawa, Nobuyuki Sasamoto, Shingo Matsuzawa¹⁾, Tomohisa Sekine²⁾, Kouichi Itabashi³⁾ and Akira Kakita³⁾

Department of Surgery, Kojirakawa Shiseidoh Hospital
¹⁾Department of Surgery, Shiseidoh General Hospital
²⁾Takano Sekine Clinic
³⁾Department of Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine

We report 2 cases of primary volvulus of the small intestine in elderly patients. The first was a 85-year-old man admitted due to sudden severe abdominal pain. In emergency surgery under the diagnosis of acute abdomen, the ileum was twisted 360° rotated clockwise. We resected of the necrotic bowel and conducted an end-to-end anastomosis. The second patient was a 92-year-old woman with situs inversis totalis admitted because of hypertension and upper abdominal pain. The ileum was twisted 360° rotated clockwise. We resectioned the necrotic bowel and conducted an end-to-end anastomosis. Both patients enjoyed a smooth postoperative course. Reports of primary volvulus of the small intestine are rare in Japan, and care should be taken because this disease develops rapid necrosisi, resulting in high mortality, particularly in those of advanced age.

Key words
primary volvulus of the small intestine in elderly patients

Reprint requests
Katsunori Matsuzawa Department of Surgery, Kojirakawa Shiseidoh Hospital 1-12-26 Higashiharamachi, Yamagata City, 990-0034 JAPAN

Accepted
January 22, 2003

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