Bowel volvulus in the chest after an esophagectomy: an uncommon type IV hiatal hernia

Transverse colon volvulus is an uncommon cause of bowel obstruction. Moreover, a thoracic herniation into the thorax is still rare. An early diagnosis and treatment are critical to the patient since they can lead to bowel infarction, peritonitis and death. We reported a 55-year-old woman admitted to the emergency department at a hospital. She presented with severe abdominal pain, mainly in the epigastrium, associated with dyspnea, nausea and vomiting. An abdominal CT scan showed a large hiatal hernia in the thorax with signs of volvulus in the involved segment.