One stage resection of acute sigmoid volvulus

ABSTRACT

In a descriptive prospective study, 20 patients with sigmoid volvulus and two with ileosigmoid knotting had primary resection of the redundant sigmoid colon with an immediate anastomosis after intraoperative antegrade colonic irrigation. Tube caecostomy was established in the two patients who required resection of both small bowel and sigmoid colon and in a further five patients in whom the integrity of the colorectal anastomosis was suspected. There was no clinical anastomosis leak and no mortality in any of the patients. Superficial wound infection occurred in three patients. The duration of hospital stay ranged from 10 to 14 days. The result showed that the procedure was associated with an acceptable morbidity and a short hospital stay. Also, it suggested that the resection of acute sigmoid volvulus and primary anastomosis after antegrade intraoperative colonic lavage safely provided that the patient is reasonably fit