A distinctive case of congenital midgut malrotation with volvulus in an adolescent female managed by Ladd's procedure - A case report

Introduction and importance Midgut Malrotation (MM) is a potentially fatal and rare congenital anomaly that results from an incomplete rotation of the bowel 270 degrees around the Superior Mesenteric Axis. Newborns are the most affected age group, nevertheless, adult malrotation can manifest, but in a much rarer incidence rate. Clinical awareness must be present when faced with a surgical abdomen in an adolescent patient because this pathology can have several misleading signs and symptoms which may eclipse the true preoperative diagnosis and masquerade as another, and this could result in implementing a different therapeutic approach. Swift clinical informed judgments must be made and acted upon to limit the morbidity and mortality resultant from this pathology. Case presentation We present the case of a 15-year-old female, who was brought to our Emergency Department (ED) with a 5-day-history of biliary emesis which evolved into obstipation with continuous and excruciating abdominal pain. Computed Tomography (CT) scan indicated gastric and duodenal dilation in addition to a “Whirlpool sign”. Exploratory laparotomy was done, and a Ladd's procedure was performed. Clinical discussion We treated our patient by performing Ladd's procedure and adhesiolysis. Diagnosis is conventionally established pre-/intraoperatively based on radiological imaging and clinical suspicion. Therapeutic methods for this pathology are primarily surgical in nature. Conclusion Midgut Malrotation is a rare entity, thus, it is crucial to further study this type of clinical presentation and keep it in mind to be able to make an accurate diagnosis to reach the optimal outcome for patients who present with acute surgical abdomen.
Highlights • MM is a potentially fatal and rare congenital anomaly of the Gastrointestinal tract comprising 0.2% of live births. • Most cases are diagnosed within the first year of neonatal life. Rarely, a case is diagnosed in the adolescent population. • Symptoms are non-specific and this warrants high clinical suspicion when presented with a case of acute surgical abdomen. • There are three major types of Midgut Malrotation according to the established Stringer classification. • Surgery is the mainstream treatment modality and Ladd's procedure and remains the gold standard for treatment of MM.