Analysis of clinical diagnosis and treatment of intestinal volvulus

The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment experience of intestinal volvulus, and to analyze the incidence of adverse events and related risk factors of intestinal volvulus.

Thirty patients with intestinal volvulus admitted to the Digestive Emergency Department of Xijing Hospital from January 2015 to December 2020 were selected. The clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed.

A total of 30 patients with volvulus were enrolled in this study, including 23 males (76.7%), with a median age of 52 years (33-66 years). The main clinical manifestations were abdominal pain in 30 cases (100%), nausea and vomiting in 20 cases (67.7%), cessation of exhaust and defecation in 24 cases (80%), and fever in 11 cases (36.7%). The positions of intestinal volvulus were jejunum in 11 cases (36.7%), ileum and ileocecal in 10 cases (33.3%), sigmoid colon in 9 cases (30%). All 30 patients received surgical treatment. Among the 30 patients underwent surgery, 11 patients developed intestinal necrosis. We found that the longer the disease duration (> 24 h), the higher the incidence of intestinal necrosis, and the higher the incidence of ascites, white blood cell count and neutrophil ratio in the intestinal necrosis group were significantly higher than those in the non-intestinal necrosis group (p < 0.05). After treatment, 1 patient died of septic shock after operation, and 2 patients with recurrent volvulus were followed up within 1 year. The overall cure rate was 90%, the mortality rate was 3.3%, and the recurrence rate was 6.6%.

Laboratory examination, abdominal CT and dual-source CT are very important for the diagnosis of volvulus in patients with abdominal pain as the main symptom. Increased white blood cell count, neutrophil ratio, ascites and long course of disease are important for predicting intestinal volvulus accompanied by intestinal necrosis. Early diagnosis and timely intervention can save lives and prevent serious complications.