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Volvulus (twisted bowel)

Volvulus intestini · Volvulus (otočení střeva)

What it is

A loop of bowel twists on its own stalk, blocking it and cutting its blood supply — the sigmoid in older people, the midgut in babies; an emergency.

Symptoms & signs

  • Sudden cramping pain
  • hugely swollen belly
  • no wind or stools
  • vomiting (green in a baby — emergency)

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Swollen, tight belly with no stool or wind
  • call 112 / 911 now Severe belly pain with vomiting
  • call 112 / 911 now A baby vomiting green bile
  • call 112 / 911 now Belly pain with fever, fast pulse or a rigid belly

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • X-ray or CT
  • untwisting through a flexible scope for sigmoid volvulus
  • surgery for gangrene or recurrence
  • urgent surgery for midgut volvulus in infants

Natural & lifestyle

  • Treat chronic constipation
  • fibre and fluids
  • early help for sudden bloating

Emerging & experimental

  • Endoscopic fixation of the sigmoid
  • laparoscopic sigmoidopexy

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Enemas and laxatives at home — they cannot untwist it and they delay surgery not confirmed in trials
  • Abdominal massage — anecdotal; dangerous with a twisted bowel anecdotal / traditional
  • Fibre supplements after untwisting — plausible against recurrence early / small studies

ICD codes