Abstract:
Objectives: to determine the outcome of emergency resection of sigmoid volvulus and to determine
the factors associated with adverse outcome.
Design: retrospective case series review.
Setting: moi teaching and referral Hospital (mtrH), Eldoret, Kenya.
Subjects: All cases of sigmoid volvulus operated at mtrH during the six years period between
year 2000-2005.
Main outcome measures: mortality rate; morbidity rate; and duration of hospital stay.
Results: Ninety two case files were analysed. Sigmoid volvulus accounted for 14.1% of all cases of
intestinal obstruction and 80% of large gut obstruction. The mean age was 47.3 years and the median
was 50 years. The range was 16 to 86 years. The male to female ratio was 29.3:1. Mortality was three
(3.3%) cases and the morbidity was 20 (21.7%) cases. The mean duration of hospital stay was 11.8
days. Inadequate intravenous fluid therapy had a statistically significant adverse effect on outcome
in this study. the yearly outcome remained unchanged during the six years of the study.
Conclusions: Emergency resection in cases with a viable colon had a similar outcome to the
traditional standard treatment by emergency endoscopic derotation followed by semi-elective
or elective resection. the overall outcome was comparable to global standards. inadequate post-
operative intravenous fluid therapy significantly affected the outcome.