VOLVULUS OF THE SIGMOID COLON AS A COMPLICATION OF SEGMENTAL DILATATION OF THE COLON - REPORT OF 2 CASES

Sigmoid volvulus is an unusual cause of intestinal obstruction in chil dren. We report two cases of sigmoid volvulus as a complication of seg mental dilatation of the colon occurring in two girls (5 years old and 9 years old) previously treated for chronic constipation. In both cas es the constipation had been recognised since the neonatal period mimi cking a Hirschsprung's disease, a diagnosis which has been excluded af ter rectal biopsy. The delayed diagnosis of segmental dilatation of th e sigmoid colon followed the volvulus. Segmental colonic resection res ulted in both cases in the cure of the constipation.