Treatment of acute sigmoid volvulus

Thirty-eight patients were treated for acute sigmoid volvulus in 9 years. Non operative decompression treatment was performed in 7 patients, and 31 patients underwent exploratory laparatomy (25 for suspected bowel necrosis and 6 for unsuccessful non operative treatment). Sigmoid resection and reanastomosis was performed in 5 of the 12 cases with gangrenous bowel and 10 of the 19 with viable bowel. There were no mortality and no morbidity related to the anastomoses. The results have shown that reanastomosis after sigmoid resection could be performed safely in selected cases of acute sigmoid volvulus even if there is bowel gangrene.