'Idiopathic' chronic gastric volvulus.

Gastric volvulus usually occurs secondary to another condition such as hiatal hernia. We report a case of so-called "idiopathic' gastric volvulus where the only abnormality was laxity of the gastric attachments. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was unhelpful in making the diagnosis, but a barium meal clearly demonstrated the abnormality. The patient underwent a Polya gastrectomy with a retrocolic gastroenterostomy, which was thought to be the best method of ensuring gastric fixation.