Primary small bowel volvulus is the commonest cause of intestinal obstruction in the Gorkha district of Nepal resulting in laparotomy. Yet, this problem is mentioned only briefly, if at all, in many standard textbooks of surgery.
This paper presents details of the presentation, clinical findings, and surgical management of 18 cases of primary small bowel volvulus.
Small bowel volvulus occurred in adults only, with an overwhelming male predominance and a low mortality despite late presentation in the majority of cases.
Attention is drawn to the common finding of localized ischaemia of several centimetres of terminal ileum.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
DukeJHJr.Primary small bowel volvulus. Arch Surg1997; 112: 685–8
2.
GulatiSMGroverNKTagoreNKTanegaOP. Volvulus of small bowel in India. Am J Surg1973; 126: 661–4
3.
CookGC. The small intestine. In: Tropical Gastroenterology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980: 364–6
4.
WiermsaRHadleyGP. Small bowel volvulus and intestinal ascariasis. Br J Surg1988; 75: 86–7
5.
ShresthaDBGongolDN. Intestinal obstruction: a review of five years cases in Bir Hospital. J Nepal Med Assoc1991; 31: 143–9
