Ileosigmoid Knotting Causing Double Lumen Acute Intestinal Obstruction and Gangrene: Review and A Case Report

Abstract

Ileosigmoid Knotting is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. It is also called as compound volvulus or double volvulus. It is caused by the wrapping of the ileum around the sigmoid colon and its mesentery or vice-versa. It is a rapidly progressive condition, leads to acute intestinal obstruction and gangrene in ileum as well as in the sigmoid colon. Early diagnosis and intervention is the key to a better outcome. Due to the rarity and unfamiliarity of this entity, diagnosis is usually made intraoperatively. Surgical removal of the gangrenous segment with either stoma formation or anastomosis is the only hope.An additional systemic search of the literature was done in PubMed, MEDLINE, ISIS, Embase, and CAS searches with the following free text keywords: ileosigmoid knotting, intestinal knotting, compound volvulus and double volvulus in English literature. Around 64 studies were identified, out of which 38 studies were selected for this article after the removal of duplicates and unrelated articles. These case series and reports were reviewed for aetiopathogenesis, presentation, diagnostic modalities, surgical interventions, and outcome.Along with this review article, there was a case report of ileosigmoid knotting in a 38-year-old male patient that presented in the surgical Emergency Department; with complaints of generalised pain and distention of abdomen for two days. Also, he had complained of not passing flatus and motion for two days. On examination, patient had generalised tenderness and bowel sounds were absent. X-ray abdomen showed dilated small and large bowel with multiple air-fluid levels. After resuscitation, an emergency exploratory laparotomy was done, and the diagnosis of ileosigmoid knotting with gangrene of both ileum and sigmoid colon was made intraoperatively. After resection of both gangrenous segment, colocolic anastomosis and double barrel ileostomy was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and patient was discharged on 7th postoperative day.