Twisted Bowel: Symptoms and Causes of Twisted Bowel Syndrome

Twisted bowel is a change in the intestinal shape, either in the small or large intestine, which may result in bowel obstruction. An abnormal twisting portion in the small intestine is referred to as small bowel volvulus, while a twisted portion in the large intestine is called colonic volvulus. Though twisted bowel syndrome occurs rarely, it is a serious medical problem that should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. A delay in medical attention increases the risk of morbidity and mortality of people with a twisted bowel. As per medical data, the death rate of patients suffering from twisted bowel is about 37 percent.

Twisted Bowel Syndrome: Symptoms

The symptoms of twisted bowel syndrome may vary based on the affected portion and extent of severity. In mild cases, symptoms may come and go without causing severe health conditions. However, if twisted bowel persists for a longer period, it may block the supply of oxygen, blood, and nutrients to the intestinal portion and remaining digestive tract. This severe medical condition is also referred to as strangulation. And if strangulation is left untreated, it may result in bowel necrosis (death of cells).

The most commonly manifested symptoms of twisted bowel syndrome are nausea, dizziness, vomiting, swollen stomach (even without eating), stomach pain, bloating, constipation, difficulty in bowel movement, and bloody stool. Also, the physical appearance of skin in the abdominal portion appears tender and distended. Some people with twisted bowel report backache, shortness of breath, and intense feeling of sleepiness.

Twisted Bowel Syndrome: Causes

The causes of twisted bowel syndrome are not clear as yet. It is believed that the intestine folds over itself leading to a twisted condition. It may untwist on its own without medical intervention. Infants who are born with intestinal malrotation are at a higher risk of developing bowel volvulus than others. According to etiological studies, there are primary and secondary causes of twisted bowel syndrome.

Primary causes refer to diet and gut motility, whereas secondary causes emphasize on the underlying health conditions that may aggravate twisted bowel syndrome. Twisted bowel syndrome caused due to the primary reasons are observed among children and adults, while those developed due to secondary causes are common among people who are above 40 years old. Colonic volvulus is also one of the common causes of bowel obstruction in pregnant women.

Twisted Bowel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment

A twisted bowel syndrome is diagnosed by conducting barium enema, stool analysis, and imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In order to rule out other diseases, the physician may conduct laparotomy, which is a minimally invasive surgical technique to examine the abdominal organs.

The treatment of twisted bowel is usually done by undergoing a surgical procedure. As a part of the treatment, the twisted bowel is straightened in such a way that the shape resembles that of a normal bowel. If necessary, the affected portion may be widened so as to prevent future complications. In case of a highly twisted bowel shape that cannot be corrected, the physician may consider excision of the particular intestinal portion. Appropriate medications are prescribed to reduce and manage the infections and complications of surgery.