Spontaneous resolution of symptomatic secondary small bowel volvulus during pre-operative single contrast upper gastrointestinal study

Abstract

Small bowel volvulus is a rare occurrence in adults as it most commonly occurs within the first year of life as a complication of malrotation, an embryologic anomaly. When occurring in any age group, restriction of blood flow can lead to ischemia and eventual infarction of bowel making any suspected volvulus a surgical emergency. We present a case of a middle-aged patient with acute small bowel obstruction with small bowel volvulus. Following oral administration of water-soluble contrast as part of a single contrast upper gastrointestinal tract (UGI) study and changes in positioning, the patient experienced spontaneous resolution of the small bowel volvulus.

Keywords

• Small bowel volvulus
• Volvulus reduction
• Small bowel diverticular disease
• Small bowel obstruction
• Single contrast upper gastrointestinal study