Volvulus and perforation risk

[Saskia__0]

  I am from Holland (fem.), in big trouble and try to find someone in the same situation as I am or someone who knows about it, to exchange thoughts. It is so difficult to cope with it all "alone". I didn't find someone yet since about one year.
  I have a very complicated large intestin (colon) = exceptional long, looped and very slow. Specially the sigmoide part has a very large extra loop who "fills" nearly the middle part of the belly. Specialists have nearly never seen such a long, turning colon.
  Specialists told me about one year ago I have with my colon a serious risk for a VOLVULUS. (turning of the loop around itself) and in my case there is a serious chance I will have complications such as perforation. There is nothing to do to avoid a Volvulus. If I will have one with perforation it will be very dangerous and death is possible. I am frightend to death…….
  It is terrible to live with this news. I am still angry they told it to me. Since the news my life changed completely. I try to find a way to live with it but I can't. The nights are filled with very strong fear.
  Is there someone who knows this fear? I don't know anymore how to cope with it.
  
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Dear Saskia,
I am sorry to learn about your condition. I am especially concerned to hear that this medical problem is causing you to develop strong feelings of fear and is disrupting your life.
A long, looped and "slow" colon is referred to as a redundant colon. In your case it seems that a portion of the colon called the sigmoid appears to be the most affected. Most people have redundant colons to some extent. But for somebody to have a long loop that carries the potential for problems is rare. This scenario usually occurs in elderly patients who may be bed-ridden due to any cause. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to develop it.
Resection of a redundant sigmoid is usually  recommended if the patient has had symptoms before, has a history of volvulus or has an acute volvulus. It would be unusual to perform surgery solely as a preventive measure.
Unfortunately, I have no information about your age, medical history or symptoms. I do not even know the reason your doctors looked for a large loop of bowel. Did you have any symptoms? It is possible that your doctors are recommending surgery because of specific reasons. For example, your colon may be very abnormal and your doctors are recommending surgery because of certain symptoms you might have had.
There is no reason to be ‘frightened to death’ about this condition. Even if a volvulus occurs, with prompt medical treatment and surgery your risk of death is low. And, if surgery is done on a planned basis before you develop a volvulus, the risk of death is much lower.
I am sorry I cannot offer you a definite answer with the information at hand. What I do know is that this is a treatable condition that carries a low risk of death. So, do not be so frightened. I would strongly urge you to have a frank discussion with your doctor about this problem and ask him/her to explain fully the reason why surgery is being recommended. A consultation with  a colorectal surgeon would be a good idea.
I wish you good luck. Please write back to us and let us know what happened.
This information is presented for educational purposes only.  Always ask specific questiions to your personal physician.
HFHSM.D.-sg
*keywords: volvulus
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