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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A Murine Model of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
Published on: December 18, 2017
An unusual cause of postoperative gastric volvulus
1Department Hepato-Biliary Surgery, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK. albert@ndzengue.freeserve.co.uk
Background:
Gastric volvulus presents with nonspecific abdominal symptoms and therefore may be missed. Its diagnosis has increased with improving imaging techniques such as computed tomography scan with contrast. Volvulus around a surgical drain has not been previously reported.
Our Case:
We report the case of a 44-year-old lady who suffered with symptoms of persistent postprandial nausea and vomiting after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen demonstrated a surgical drain slinging up the pylorus and a partial gastric volvulus. The symptoms resolved after the drain was removed.
Conclusions:
Gastric volvulus is a differential diagnosis of persistent postprandial vomiting after surgical disruption of the gastrosplenic ligament. However, if this occurs in the early postoperative period the drains should be removed to ensure resolution.
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