Volvulus

Causes and symptoms of volvulus

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What is the volvulus?

Volvulus is a violation of the obstruction of any part of the intestine. The most prevalent is the disease among adherents of vegetarian food. If you suspect the presence of this disease should immediately seek the help of a specialist, as the prognosis without proper treatment – adverse: the disease can cause death of the patient.

Causes of volvulus

The cause of intestinal obstruction can be a spasm or paresis of the intestine. Enhanced motility may lead to volvulus of the colon, which requires mandatory surgery. Increased peristalsis in turn can be caused by the consumption of foods rich in fiber. Bowel motility becomes more pronounced and intestinal infection, overdose of certain medications.

In the intestinal lumen can reach the foreign body, in some cases, the passage content prevents the tumor. Sometimes the cause of the volvulus becomes adhesive disease – a complication after suffering peritonitis. In early childhood intestinal obstruction may be accompanied by the malformation, the feeding disorders.

The reasons for volvulus are divided into several types. Mechanical bowel obstruction can be caused by a foreign body, blocking the lumen of the intestine (obstructive ileus) and compression of the individual sections of the intestine from the outside (strangulation).

Strangulated intestinal obstruction is accompanied by compression of the mesentery and blood vessels on which blood flows to that area of the intestine, which may cause gangrene. In Pediatrics incidence of intussusception accompanied by the occurrence of a single area of bowel adjacent to the formation of circular folds. In addition, the volvulus in children may develop due to strong motor skills and a long mesentery.

Spasm or paresis of the muscle fibers can lead to dynamic and paralytic obstruction, respectively. Such changes in muscle tone can be associated with certain diseases of internal organs: kidney stone disease, myocardial infarction. Violations of contraction of muscle fibers can occur after surgery in the intestines after taking strong medications, as a result of lead poisoning, in some diseases of the Central nervous system.

In rare cases in children with spastic volvulus can occur duea massive worm infestation.

The symptoms of volvulus

Among the first symptoms of volvulus appears increasing over time, cramping pain of different intensity, nausea and vomiting. After some time, developing a cast of feces in the stomach and vomit a distinctive smell. The patient depart gases, but no chair. Motility of the intestine early in the disease does not disappear, and peristalsis can be noted through the abdominal wall. The stomach acquires an asymmetric shape, grows rapidly bloating.

In the framework of a medical examination become apparent and other symptoms of volvulus: tachycardia, drop in blood pressure, increased body temperature (in the formation of necrosis of the intestine, or when peritonitis), dry mouth, when conducting a fluoroscopy visible loops of bowel distended with gas or accumulated liquid (bowl kloybera).

When performing palpation, marked abdominal distension, local compaction or abnormal softness of the individual sections of the abdomen, pain, auscultation can be heard dripping sounds.

Treatment of volvulus

The final diagnosis is carried out in the framework of the hospital. In the absence of peritonitis is conservative therapy. Patient is given pain medications, taking steps to reduce the toxicity, put the siphon enema, inserted a gastrointestinal probe for cleaning the bowel.

It is also important to restore fluid and electrolyte balance of the patient, as violated the acidity of the internal environment of the body, which can cause death.

The ineffectiveness of medical therapy is surgery: surgery removes the obstruction, measures are initiated to resuscitate the damaged portion of the colon, permanently damaged sections of the bowel are removed.