A surprising twist to an old problem: sigmoid volvulus in a 19-year-old man

Sigmoid volvulus classically presents in the seventh or eighth decade, therefore, diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus in an adolescent may be delayed or missed. This life-threatening diagnosis should be considered in young patients presenting with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Intraoperative findings in a 19-year-old man with a sigmoid volvulus highlight the importance of considering further studies, such as an abdominal CT scan, which goes beyond the typical obstruction evaluation in the adolescent patient. When nonoperative management fails to decompress the volvulus, complicating factors should be considered, and laparotomy is indicated to provide definitive treatment for this condition.