A rare case of descending colonic volvulus presenting as large bowel obstruction 19 years after sigmoidectomy and descending colorectal anastomosis

Introduction and importance: Large bowel obstruction is a common surgical emergency worldwide. Large bowel obstruction secondary to descending colonic volvulus is an extremely rare condition with only few reported cases worldwide. Its extreme rarity is due to its retroperitoneal location and lack of mesentery. Case presentation: A 75-year-old male patient with a history of sigmoidectomy and end-to-end descending colorectal anastomosis 19 years previously, presented with failure to pass faeces and flatus of 1 day duration with associated colicky abdominal pain, distension and vomiting. The abdomen was distended but soft and non-tender. Digital rectal examination showed an empty and ballooned rectum. The intraoperative finding was of a 360° counter-clockwise rotated descending colon. Detorsion and extraperitonealization of the descending colon was performed and the patient was successfully discharged. Clinical discussion: Volvulus is a twisting of a segment of bowel along its own mesentery. Sigmoid volvulus and caecal volvulus accounts for up to 90% and less than 20% of cases, respectively. Descending colonic volvulus is described in very few case reports. Diagnosis is clinical and confirmed by imaging. Conclusion: Descending colonic volvulus is a surgical emergency and an extremely rare cause of large bowel obstruction. Surgical management options include extraperitonealization of the descending colon, diversion colostomy or resection and primary end-to-end anastomosis.