Colonic atony in association with sigmoid volvulus: its role in recurrence of obstructive symptoms

We reviewed a 30-year experience in management of 129 patients with 163 acute obstructions due to sigmoid volvulus. Recurrent obstruction of the colon was observed in 47 (or 45%) of 104 patients who survived their initial obstructive episode: 61% after rectal tube insertion, 45% after detorsion, 33% after sigmoid plication, and 21% despite sigmoid colectomy. Subsequent barium enema or surgical exploration showed true sigmoid volvulus to be the cause of recurrent obstruction in 36 of 47 patients, while atonic bowel, involving the sigmoid alone or more proximal colon as well, was responsible for the other 11 recurrent obstructions. Sigmoid excision was corrective only if bowel atony was limited to that portion of the colon. Only more extensive colectomy, so as to include all flaccid colon, consistently obviated recurrence. Failure to recognize functional obstruction accounted for five of the 25 total deaths.