A Twist in Crohn's Disease: A Rare Case of Gastric Volvulus

An 80-year-old male with a past medical history of Crohn's disease presented to the emergency department with complaints of nausea and multiple episodes of coffee-ground emesis and was initially diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal bleed. On physical examination, the patient was noted to have a mildly tense and tender abdomen with hyperactive bowel sound. His CT abdomen showed a markedly distended stomach with mesenteroaxial (MA) rotation and localized fluid in the left upper quadrant with the caudal displacement of the spleen due to the left upward position of the stomach. The gastric outflow tract was pinched to the left of the midline superior to the esophagogastric junction, consistent with the gastric volvulus. Endoscopic detorsion was initially planned, but it was unsuccessful due to the twisting of the distal stomach in the antrum. The patient underwent laparoscopic detorsion and gastropexy. He was found to be asymptomatic after the procedure and was discharged with outpatient follow-up. Gastric volvulus is a rare yet potentially fatal condition due to its variable presentation, and it can have lethal consequences if not treated properly and in a timely manner.