[Percutaneous endoscopic colopexy--a new treatment possibility for volvulus of the sigmoid]

An 83-year-old woman, largely bedridden since a stroke 2 years before, was hospitalized because of upper abdominal pain, nausea and obstipation. She had regularly been taking laxatives of the anthraquinone type. She had a fever of 38.6 degrees C and leukocytosis (14,900/microliters). Radiological examination revealed volvulus of the sigmoid colon with ileus. As she vehemently refused an operation, it was attempted to reduce the volvulus endoscopically. At the first coloscopy the volvulus was untwisted. At that time there were already areas of necrosis in the rectosigmoid and descending sigmoid portions. As the volvulus recurred three days later, another coloscopic derotation was performed, this time with fixation of the sigmoid by three gastrostomy tubes for 20 days. The further course was uncomplicated, the patient had regular bowel movements and became free of fever and symptoms. The white cell count returned to normal and the intestinal mucosa healed histologically without scarring. There has been no recurrence for 10 months. The conventional treatment of volvulus of the sigmoid is decompression followed by sigmoid resection. This case describes for the first time the nonoperative treatment by percutaneous endoscopic colopexy.