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Sigmoid volvulus with and without megacolon

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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

Sixty-six consecutive patients, admitted to St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, with sigmoid volvulus, fell into two groups, 60 with-out and six with acquired megacolon. In the former groups, flatus tube decompression was usually successful, and sigmoid resection provided a cure. In the group with megacolon, the history was longer; patients more often had bowel symptoms before or between acute episodes of volvulus; flatus tube decompression was rerely successful; and symptoms persisted after sigmoidectomy and were sometimes associated with recurrence of volvulus of the new “sigmoid.” It seems that nothing less than total colectomy will cure these patients.

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Read at the meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgcons, Atlanta, Georgia, June 10 to 14, 1979.

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Ryan, P. Sigmoid volvulus with and without megacolon. Dis Colon Rectum 25, 673–679 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02629539

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02629539

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