Acute caecal volvulus: A diagnostic paradigm

Acute caecal volvulus is a rare etiology in cases of intestinal obstruction. we are presenting the data of 11 cases out of 1032 cases of intestinal obstruction between june 2008 to june 2013,who presented in the emergency department of bahawal victoria hospital bahawalpur.the mean age was 36±3.38 years with female preponderance in this retrospective study. the persistent distinctive features were chronic intermittent pain followed by the passage of flatus (54%),severe right lower quadrant colicky pain (31%) and abdominal distention (59%). radiologically the dilated caecum with air fluid level (68%) was persistent finding with lateralization of small gut in few patients (12%). cecopexy (18%),right hemicolectomy with primary anastomosis (63.63%) and ileostomy with mucous fistula (18%) were offered. wound sepsis (27%) and chest infection (18%) were common sequele. acute caecal volvulus diagnosis requires a heightened clinical suspicion on the basis of symptoms like rlq pain/mass which is relieved by passage of flatus and early radiological assistance in all cases of intestinal obstruction. © 2015 pakistan medical association. all rights reserved.