Acute Gastric Volvulus due to Diaphragmatic Eventration

ABSTRACT

We present the case report of a 72-year-old female in whom diaphragmatic eventration and secondary gastric volvulus developed 10 years after a left partial pneumonectomy for a bronchiectasis. Eventration of the diaphragm is defined as an abnormal elevation of an intact diaphragm. The abnormally wide subdiaphragmatic space provides the potential for a gastric volvulus, which results from the strong negative intrathoracic pulling force created by the potential subphrenic space and paradoxical movement of the diaphragm. Unless this strong negative force is first eliminated, gastropexy alone will lead to recurrence. Obliteration of the subphrenic space by colonic displacement is a simple and effective way of abolishing this negative subdiaphragmatic pulling force. Treatment of gastric volvulus requires immediate surgical repair to prevent subsequent necrosis and perforation, with surgical correction of the underlying anatomic abnormality being the treatment of choice for gastric volvulus. We experienced a case of gastric volvulus due to diaphragmatic eventration who was treated with colonic displacement.