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. 1985 Jul;202(1):83–92. doi: 10.1097/00000658-198507000-00014

Volvulus of the colon. Incidence and mortality.

G H Ballantyne, M D Brandner, R W Beart Jr, D M Ilstrup
PMCID: PMC1250842  PMID: 4015215

Abstract

Between 1960 and 1980, 137 patients with colonic volvulus (52% cecal, 3% transverse colon, 2% splenic flexure, and 43% sigmoid) were seen at the Mayo Clinic. Among the 59 patients with sigmoid volvulus, four (7%) had colonic infarction. Total mortality with sigmoid volvulus was seven per cent. There were 71 patients with cecal volvulus. Colonoscopic decompression was accomplished in two of these patients; in 15 (21%), gangrenous colon developed and mortality was 33%. Total mortality for cecal volvulus patients was 17%. Mortality for all forms of volvulus in patients with viable colons was 11%. Mortality for all patients with volvulus was 14%.

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Selected References

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