Emergency laparotomy for acute sigmoid volvulus in El Obeid Hospital, Western Sudan

Abstract EN

Objectives : To evaluate the role of emergency laparotomy in patients presenting with acute sigmoid volvulus at El Obeid Teaching Hospital, Western Sudan.

Patients and Methods : The records of 22 patients with acute sigmoid volvulus who were offered emergency laparotomy and admitted to the wards of the University Surgical Unit at El Obeid Teaching Hospital, Western Sudan over 4 years, were studied.

Results : They were 18 males and four females.

The mean age ((± SD) was 59.7 (± 14.

16) years.

Patients had viable bowel for which distortion, deflation and colopexy were done.

Eight patients had sigmoid colostomy later.

Six patients had gangrenous bowel and underwent immediate resection and anastomosis, following which one patient died (4.5 %).

Eight patients were lost in follow up.

Conclusions : Emergency laparotomy for sigmoid volvulus may be overdone.

A conservative decompression sigmoidoscopy with distortion and tube deflation should be tried in such patients, with plans for colostomy later.