Description
A greatly distended and enlarged sigmoid loop showing some reddish discolouration; there is a
small area of haemorrhage at the root of the mesentery, but this may well be artefact.
History
This woman was admitted to hospital at the age of 58, with a history of colicky abdominal
pain for three days and abdominal distension for one day. She had had similar symptoms on
previous occasions, but these had quickly disappeared. Radiologically the dilated bowel was
demonstrated, and the diagnosis of volvulus made, and the sigmoid resected. At operation, it was
noted that there was some thickening of the mesocolon suggesting perhaps that the bowel had
twisted in the past.