Abstract
Twenty patietns who were admitted for sigmoid volvulus between 1964 and 1987 were analysed. Four of six patients who were treated with non-operative reduction or operative detorision as an initial treatment subsequently underwent resection of the sigmoid colon. Of thirteen patients who underwent sigmoid resection and primary anastomosis, two patients complicated by anastomotic dehiscence, one did by intra-abdominal abscess, and one died. Recent four cases undergone intraoperative irrigation of the colon developed no postoperative complications. All three death cases after operation had gangrenous bowel and arrived the hospital with shock state. One underwent sigmoid resection and anastomosis and two did Hartmenn's operation. Because of the high recurrence rate after reduction and of the low postoperative mortality rate in non-gangrenous cases, sigmoid resection and primary anastomosis is thought to be the treatment of choice in such cases.
