Radiological features of acute gastric volvulus in adult patients

To evaluate the radiological features of acute gastric volvulus in adults and correlate these features with operative findings.

The clinical, radiological and operative findings of five adult patients (four males and one female with mean age of 50.4 years) who presented or referred to King Abdullah University hospital over 4 year's period with symptoms of acute gastric volvulus were reviewed retrospectively. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal barium study and two of them had computed tomographic (CT) scans preoperatively. The radiological features demonstrated on upper gastrointestinal barium exams and CT scans were analyzed and compared with operative findings.

Radiological and operative findings revealed organo-axial gastric volvulus in all patients in our study. All of them had associated diaphragmatic defect or hiatal hernia. The upper gastrointestinal barium studies demonstrated the classic radiological features of organo-axial volvulus. CT done on two of our patients confirmed the diagnosis.

Upper gastrointestinal barium study is an accurate way to diagnose and characterize acute gastric volvulus in adult patients. CT scan can also be used to diagnose this clinical entity.