Gastric Volvulus: A Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen in 84-Year-Old Patient

Abstract

Introduction: Gastric volvulus is a rare abdominal emergency occurring when the stomach rotates along one of its axis. Presentation of the Case:  our patient is a 84 year old male, with history of smoking, admitted in the emergency room for acute epigastric pain and distension and hematesis. Physical examination found a distended upper abdomen. And the CT scan showed a mesenteroaxial volvulus of the stomach, the patient was operated on laparoscopically, with reduction of the volvulus and gastropexy, no predisposing abdominal abnormality was found, the postoperative course was uneventful and the patient discharged after 3 days. Discussion: Organo axial volvulus is the most common form of gastric volvulus, mesetero axial and the combined volvulus are the other types described in literature. Gastropexy and devolvulation with the eventual treatment of any predisposing intra-abdominal abnormalities are the pillars of the surgical treatment. Conclusion: Gastric volvulus is rare surgical emergency; expeditious treatment prevents serious avoidable complications.