Can a human stomach flip?
Gastric volvulus is a rare clinical entity defined as an abnormal rotation of the stomach of more than 180°, which creates a closed-loop obstruction that can result in incarceration and strangulation. It can manifest either as an acute abdominal emergency or as a chronic intermittent problem.
What is Borchardt’s triad?
Borchardt’s triad is believed to be diagnostic for acute gastric volvulus and consists of unproductive retching, epigastric pain and distention, and the inability to pass a nasogastric tube.
How common is gastric volvulus?
Gastric volvulus is a rare condition resulting from rotation of the stomach beyond 180 degrees. It is a difficult condition to diagnose, mostly because it is rarely considered.
Is gastric volvulus an emergency?
Acute gastric volvulus is regarded as a surgical emergency, requiring either open or laparoscopic surgery. We report a case of acute gastric volvulus secondary to a paraesophageal hernia that presented with acute abdominal pain and fullness and had an unfavorable outcome.
How do you prevent gastric volvulus?
Anterior abdominal wall gastropexy (“gastropexy”) is the fixation of the stomach to the left hemidiaphragm and anterior abdominal wall in its normal anatomic configuration to prevent recurrent gastric volvulus.
What is gastric strangulation?
Gastric strangulation is a complication that can occur after the development of acute gastric volvulus. Timely diagnosis and treatment of acute gastric volvulus can potentially decrease morbidity and mortality. Patients can simply present with mild abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting, without emesis.
How is gastric volvulus treated?
With chronic gastric volvulus, surgery is performed to prevent complications. The principles associated with the treatment of gastric volvulus include decompression, reduction, and prevention of recurrence, which are best accomplished with surgical therapy.
What is a twisted stomach called?
Gastric volvulus or volvulus of stomach is a twisting of all or part of the stomach by more than 180 degrees with obstruction of the flow of material through the stomach, variable loss of blood supply and possible tissue death.
Is gastric volvulus serious?
Most patients who experience gastric volvulus present with mild or intermittent gastric obstructive symptoms. However, severe acute gastric volvulus can result in complete gastric outlet obstruction and ischemia. Consequently, acute gastric volvulus warrants immediate evaluation and management.
Is gastric volvulus painful?
Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis The presentation of acute gastric volvulus includes sudden severe pain in the upper abdomen or lower chest and persistent but unproductive vomiting. Because the volvulus causes gastric obstruction, it is often impossible to pass a nasogastric tube into the stomach.
How rare is a gastric volvulus?
Gastric volvulus in children is a rare condition; a recent literature review described 581 cases in infants and children. Acute volvulus occurred in 252 children with more than 50% younger than the age of 1 year. Chronic volvulus occurred in 329 children and more than 70% were younger than a year of age.
What does gastric volvulus feel like?
Typical symptoms of chronic gastric volvulus are vague and nonspecific and may include abdominal pain, vomiting, and dysphagia. Additional symptoms include heartburn and regurgitation. Prior reports have pointed out the symptom overlap between chronic gastric volvulus and PEH.