Wandering Spleen: An Unusual Association with Gastric Volvulus

ABSTRACT

Gastric volvulus is a rare disease; only 700 cases have been reported since Berti first described autopsy findings of a patient in 1866. Its symptoms are non-specific and therefore it is difficult to diagnose it early. Acute gastric volvulus has a poor prognosis because it may cause shock and strangulation. Perforation or gastric hemorrhage can also result from ischemia when diagnosis is delayed. Therefore, it requires rapid diagnosis and an emergency operation. Wandering spleen is a rare condition characterized by the absence or underdevelopment of one or all of the ligaments that hold the spleen in its normal position in the abdomen. Wandering spleen and gastric volvulus have a common cause lack of intraperitoneal visceral ligaments. The authors now report a case of wandering spleen accompanying gastric voluvulus, which resulted in wandering spleen and perforation.