Caught in the Whirl: A Case Report of Midgut Volvulus in an Elderly Patient

Source: PubMed Central Open Access, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Midgut volvulus is a rare finding in adults, especially those without a known history of congenital gastrointestinal abnormalities. This is a case of a 78-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with two weeks of intermittent, postprandial abdominal bloating and pain. His examination was notable for tachycardia and mild abdominal distention. On computed tomography angiography (CTA), he was found to have midgut volvulus and underwent emergent exploratory laparotomy with Emergency General Surgery (EGS) where his bowel was found to be twisted clockwise around the mesentery. This case report highlights the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with the relatively uncommon diagnosis of midgut volvulus. In this report, we describe the patient’s presentation, important imaging findings, and key management principles for midgut volvulus. Topics Volvulus, Midgut volvulus, abdominal pain.