Volvulus of splenic flexure: an autopsy case

Abstract

The definition of volvulus is an axial twist of a portion of the gastrointestinal tract along its mesentery. The involved bowel is obstructed partially or completely with a variable degree of arterial and venous occlusion. The colon is the most common site for volvulus. The splenic flexure is the least common site of colonic volvulus. Splenic flexure volvulus (SFV) is a very rare cause of colonic obstruction, constituting 1-2 % of colonic volvulus. Mortality rate of the SFV cases is low. We experienced a SFV case who was a 20-year-old male soldier. The case had come to the state hospital with complaints of severe left abdominal and lumbar pain and a medical history of relapsing urinary infection and nephrolithiasis. The doctor had hospitalized him with the diagnosis of paralytic ileus caused by nephrolithiasis. He had died after 14 hours and 35 minutes from hospitalization. Autopsy findings showed out that the death cause was generalized peritonitis due to gangrenous SFV. In this paper, we presented this case and discussed its properties in the light of the literature data (Fig. 2, Ref. 7).