| Sigmoid colon volvulus | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Sigmoid volvulus |
 | |
| Specialty | General surgery |
Sigmoid colon volvulus, also known assigmoid volvulus, isvolvulus affecting thesigmoid colon. It is a common cause ofbowel obstruction[1] andconstipation. It is common in Asia, India (7% ofintestinal obstruction) and especially South India because of the highfibre diet. It is a very common cause of large bowel obstruction inPeru andBolivia due to high altitude.[2]
The condition is more common in males and with old age. It is also common in people with chronic constipation andlaxative abuse.
It is common in:[citation needed]
In sigmoid, volvulus rotation is always anticlockwise. It requires one and a half rotation to causevascular obstruction andgangrene which eventually leads to perforation either at the root or at the summit of the sigmoid loop.[citation needed]