3143 Gastric Volvulus: Coffee Ground Emesis and NGT Resistance in an Otherwise Asymptomatic Elderly Man

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Adult gastric volvulus is generally diagnosed by the symptoms of abdominal or chest pain. Acute presentation include symptoms of pain, vomiting, and failure of placement of naso-gastric tube (NGT) also known as Borchardt Triad. Severity of sequelae is dependent on significance of the rotation with rotations of >180° causing possibly outlet obstruction, strangulation, necrosis leading to perforation and severe sepsis leading to death. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 92 year old gentleman is admitted for UTI related sepsis and started on antibiotics. On day 8 of his admission, patient complained of abdominal epigastric pain and had two episodes of dark red colored particulate emesis. Hemoglobin was stable and physical exam showed mild distention and slight tenderness on palpation but was otherwise nonsignificant. Multiple attempts at nasogastric tube placement were difficult due to resistance during insertion at below oro-pharyngeal levels. Abdominal CT scan (Figures 2 and 3) was completed showing left diaphragmatic hernia with herniation of the stomach with upside down stomach is noted with partial gastric outlet obstruction with the distended stomach, indicating organo-axial volvulus. This was not obviously noted in the admission chest X-ray (Figure 1). Given requirement for gastrostomy, patient was transferred to hospital of their choice where he subsequently received surgery and was discharged 4 months later. DISCUSSION: The diagnosis of gastric volvulus in this patient was not initially apparent as his abdominal pain complaints were very mild, his labs were normal and stable, and his initial admission was for sepsis. It was primarily the resistance in the placement of the NGT and the coffee-ground emesis that raised suspicion and prompted the CT imaging scan, which revealed the diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to have medical professionals remain cognizant of the possibility of the diagnosis of gastric volvulus, no matter how rare, in an elderly patient with resistance to NGT placement. And although the Borchardt triad is apparent in 75% of acute gastric volvulus cases, it is important to remember that up to 25% of patients do not present classically, and therefore gastric volvulus should not be excluded as a possible diagnosis.