EXTRAPERITONEALIZATION FOR SIGMOID VOLVULUS - A REAPPRAISAL

A prospective study was carried out in a university hospital to evalua te the results of extraperitonealization of the sigmoid colon in non-g angrenous sigmoid volvulus. Eighty-eight patients with non-gangrenous sigmoid volvulus were operated upon using the technique of extraperito nealization of the sigmoid colon. There was no recurrence of the volvu lus at 1 to 6 years follow up but 8 patients (9.1%) had constipation a nd 2 patients (2.2%) had distension of the lower abdomen. Extraperiton ealization of the sigmoid colon is a reasonable non-resection alternat ive for non-gangrenous sigmoid volvulus and has minimal morbidity, mor tality and no recurrence in our series.