Gastric Herniation as a Complication of Transverse Colostomy

Herniation of the stomach at the site of a transverse colostomy must be rare, for no reference pertinent to its occurrence could be found on a survey of the literature. The following case illustrates the problems encountered in the diagnosis of this entity and the difficulty of its differentiation from volvulus of the right colon. A 76-year-old white female was admitted on Feb. 8, 1952, in the early evening, with symptoms of abdominal pain, distention, progressive constipation, and weight loss. Blood had been noted in the stool on one occasion about a month previously. On physical examination loops of distended bowel were visible, bowel sounds were markedly reduced, and there was diffuse abdominal tenderness. Admission scout films of the abdomen indicated a low colonic obstruction, probably neoplastic, and two hours later a transverse colostomy over a glass rod was performed. The bowel was decompressed with a needle, but not opened until the following morning. At that time moderate amounts of gaseous, flu...