Bowel malrotation and volvulus

File:Volvulus of the small intestine.JPG

Volvulus of the small intestine.

'Malrotation means disorder of rotation of the intestine or failure of its attachment to the back wall of the abdomen. A normal intestine rotates counterclockwise. A. mesenterica sup acts as the axis of rotation. An unfixed intestine predisposes to volvulus (knotting of the intestinal hinge) and to obstruction. It is sometimes associated with asplenism or congenital heart defects.

Clinical picture[edit | edit source]

Symptoms of acute or recurrent NPB,
symptoms appear shortly after birth or at any time during the first year of life.

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

On the X-ray, we can see the distribution of air - there are no bubbles in the area of the cecum,
rotation failure will be confirmed by irrigography.

Therapy[edit | edit source]

Surgical.

Volvulus of the small intestine.
Ladd's syndrome.png

Ladd's syndrome - unrotated cecum and duodenal compression by peritoneal bands.
Intestinal rotation.jpg

Intestinal rotation during embryonic development. The black line represents the entrance to the umbilical cord.