Short bowel syndrome as a result of sigmoid volvulus in an 8-year-old child. The first reported case worldwide: A case report

Highlights • Sigmoid volvulus is rarely considered a diagnosis in children. • We are presenting a case of a child with sigmoid volvulus causing compression of the mesentery of the small intestine. • It is the first reported case worldwide of a sigmoid volvulus to cause short bowel syndrome. • We performed a sigmoidectomy with end colostomy (Hartman`s) and primary anastomosis of the healthy part of small intestine.
Introduction We present a case of a male child 8 years old presenting with a sigmoid volvulus causing ischemia of most of bowel loops resulting in a short bowel syndrome. It is the first reported case worldwide. Presentation A male child presented with a picture of intestinal obstruction. After complete laboratory and radiological investigation, laparotomy was done revealing a sigmoid volvulus compessing most of the small bowel loops with gangrenous sigmoid colon for which sigmoidectomy with end colostomy, resection of gangrenous small bowel loops and primary anastomosis of the remaining healthy part. Discussion There are few reported cases describing sigmoid volvulus in this age group. However, none of them resulted in short bowel syndrome. The median age was 7 years with a higher ratio in males than females (3.5:1). Conclusion Sigmoid volvulus is not a common problem in children and adolescents, and is rarely considered as a cause of intestinal obstruction and it was never reported as a cause of short bowel syndrome. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment confer an excellent prognosis.