An unusual cause of postoperative gastric volvulus.

BACKGROUND

Gastric volvulus presents with nonspecific abdominal symptoms and therefore may be missed. Its diagnosis has increased with improving imaging techniques such as computed tomography scan with contrast. Volvulus around a surgical drain has not been previously reported.

OUR CASE: We report the case of a 44-year-old lady who suffered with symptoms of persistent postprandial nausea and vomiting after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen demonstrated a surgical drain slinging up the pylorus and a partial gastric volvulus. The symptoms resolved after the drain was removed.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastric volvulus is a differential diagnosis of persistent postprandial vomiting after surgical disruption of the gastrosplenic ligament. However, if this occurs in the early postoperative period the drains should be removed to ensure resolution.