A twisting of the intestine causing obstruction.
A condition in which a loop of intestine is twisted and blocked, so cutting off its blood supply.
The twisting of an organ in the body, such as the intestines or stomach, often causing pain and obstruction and frequently requiring surgical correction.
Twisting of the intestine, most often in the area of the ileum or sigmoid colon, resulting in intestinal obstruction. Severe pain, vomiting, nausea, a tense distended stomach, and the absence of bowel sounds usually occur. If not corrected surgically, the obstruction leads to peritonitis, rupture of the intestines, and death.
A condition in which a loop of the intestine becomes knotted or twisted. Volvulus can obstruct the intestine, trapping gas and stool that can cause abdominal swelling, pain, and vomiting. If the blood supply is cut off, the intestine can die (gangrene). Volvulus is usually diagnosed with imaging studies such as X rays. When the problem develops in the small intestine, only surgery can provide a definitive diagnosis. However, volvulus most frequently occurs in the S- shaped lower portion (sigmoid) of the large intestine (colon). Doctors are often able to treat this condition with a sigmoidoscopy or barium enema. In recurring cases of volvulus in the sigmoid colon, or when the problem develops elsewhere in the intestine, more extensive abdominal surgery may be required.
Twisting of part of the digestive tract, usually leading to partial or complete obstruction and sometimes reducing the blood supply, causing gangrene. A volvulus may untwist spontaneously or by manipulation, but surgical exploration is usually performed. Gastric volvulus is a twist of the stomach, usually in a hiatus hernia. Small-intestinal volvulus is twisting of part of the bowel around an adhesion. Sigmoid volvulus is a twist of the sigmoid colon, usually when this loop is particularly long; it is often corrected by a barium enema.
An obstruction of the bowels produced by the twisting of a loop of bowel round itself. It can occur at any age but is most common in the newborn period when it is caused by an anomaly in the way the intestine and its suspending tissues are formed intestinal malrotation. At some point the abnormally suspended gut twists on its own root (of intestine, blood vessels, nerves, supporting tissue etc). The symptoms and signs are those of shock coupled with intestinal obstruction. Urgent surgery is required.
A twisting of the bowel on itself, causing obstruction. A prolapsed mesentery is the predisposing cause. This usually occurs at the sigmoid and ileocecal areas of the intestines.
Volvulus involves the twisting of a segment of the intestine or, in uncommon situations, the stomach. This severe condition leads to blockage in the flow of intestinal contents and raises the risk of strangulation. If strangulation does happen, it disrupts blood circulation to the impacted area, potentially causing life-threatening gangrene, which is the death of tissue in that region.
Volvulus symptoms include intense bouts of abdominal pain accompanied by vomiting. The condition can be congenital or may develop due to adhesions, which are areas where scar tissue binds loops of intestine together. Immediate medical intervention, typically surgical, is necessary to treat it.