What is mesenteric swirling?
The whirlpool sign of the mesentery, also known as the whirl sign, is seen when the bowel rotates around its mesentery leading to whirls of the mesenteric vessels.
How common is it for your intestines to twist?
Volvulus of the small intestine usually occurs in infants and children. In adults, volvulus of the small intestine is rare. In adults, volvulus tends to occur in the colon and is known as a sigmoid volvulus.
Is a twisted bowel rare?
Small bowel volvulus (SBV) is defined as torsion of a loop of small bowel about the axis of its mesentery, resulting in partial or complete obstruction. SBV is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction in Western countries, comprising 1–6% of cases [1].
What is mesenteric volvulus?
Midgut volvulus is a condition in which the intestine has become twisted as a result of malrotation of the intestine during fetal development. Malrotation of the intestine occurs when the normal embryologic sequence of bowel development and fixation is interrupted.
Can you fix a twisted colon?
Surgery is an option to treat volvulus and stop the intestine from twisting again. Types of surgeries for twisted bowel include: Colectomy: This is a surgery that removes all or part of your colon. For a twist in the lower colon, your doctor will take out the affected part of your intestine.
What causes mesenteric volvulus?
Clinically, the danger of mesenteric volvulus is the associated interference with the blood supply to the bowel wall, which may be caused by either twisting of the mesenteric vascular pedicle or distention of the intestine due to obstruction.
How is volvulus diagnosed?
In testing for volvulus, the following tests may be performed:
- A stool sample test finds blood in the stool.
- An upper GI X-ray with small bowel follow-through shows a malrotated bowel or midgut volvulus.
- A CT scan may show evidence of intestinal obstruction.
Can an xray show a twisted bowel?
Twisting of the bowel – or ‘volvulus’ – is a specific cause of bowel obstruction which can have characteristic appearances on an abdominal X-ray. The two commonest types of bowel twisting are sigmoid volvulus and caecal volvulus.
