Akademik

A twisting of the intestine causing obstruction; if left untreated may result in vascular compromise of the involved intestine. [L. volvo, to roll]

- cecal v. rotation and twisting of the cecum toward the left upper quadrant, with ascending colon obstruction; associated with a cecum on a long mesentery.

- gastric v. twisting of the stomach that may result in obstruction and impairment of the blood supply to the organ; it can occur in paraesophageal hernia and occasionally in eventration of the diaphragm. See organoaxial.

- mesenteroaxial v. a type of gastric v. in which the axis of twist is parallel to the line of the gastric mesentery. SEE ALSO: organoaxial.

- sigmoid v. relatively common location of v., with obstruction either proximal or distal to the sigmoid segment.

vol·vu·lus 'väl-vyə-ləs n a twisting of the intestine upon itself that causes obstruction compare ILEUS

twisting of part of the digestive tract, usually leading to partial or complete obstruction and sometimes reducing the blood supply, causing gangrene. A volvulus may untwist spontaneously or by manipulation, but surgical exploration is usually performed. Gastric volvulus is a twist of the stomach, usually in a hiatus hernia. Small-intestinal volvulus is twisting of part of the bowel around an adhesion. Sigmoid volvulus is a twist of the sigmoid colon, usually when this loop is particularly long. Compound volvulus (or ileosigmoid knotting) involves both the small and the large bowel.