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Volvulus of the transverse colon: Report of case and review of the literature

  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Summary

A case of transverse colon volvulus is reported, bringing the total number of collected cases in the English language medical literature to 45. Although this type of volvulus is rare, a definite pattern can be appreciated. Patients tend to be young, female, and give a history of chronic or recurrent difficulty in having bowel movements. A triad of underlying factors predisposes to the development of the volvulus: a distal impediment (either organic or functional) to the evacuation of the bowel, a redundant bowel and mesocolon, and a fixed point around which the bowel can twist. The best treatment is resection with either anastomosis or exteriorization, depending on bowel viability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland

    Lewis D. Zinkin M.D., Lowell D. Katz M.D. & John D. Rosin M.D.

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  1. Lewis D. Zinkin M.D.
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  2. Lowell D. Katz M.D.
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  3. John D. Rosin M.D.
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Zinkin, L.D., Katz, L.D. & Rosin, J.D. Volvulus of the transverse colon: Report of case and review of the literature. Dis Colon Rectum 22, 492–496 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02586939

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02586939

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