TREATMENT OF SIGMOID VOLVULUS - EXPERIENCE IN GONDAR, NORTH-WEST ETHIOPIA

A retrospective study of 145 patients with sigmoid volvulus (SV) seen over a three year period is presented. Sigmoid volvulus (SV) was the c ommonest cause of emergency admissions with-intestinal obstruction (56 %). The mean age was 55+-13 years, (range 10-80), and the male to fema le ratio was 13.5:1. The presence or absence of a previous attack make s a significant difference in the occurrence of gangrenous bowel. Eigh teen out of 75 patients (24%) with no previous attack had gangrenous b owel compared with 2 out of 57 (4%) after recurrence. A conservative s igmoidoscopic detorsion was successful in the majority of the cases (6 3%). Elective surgery after bowel preparation was associated with a mo rtality rate of 3% in comparison to 12.5 mortality rate in patients wi th viable bowel operated on an emergency basis (p<0.05). Sigmoidoscopi c detorsion should be the first measure in patients with viable bowel.