Surgical treatment of midgut nonrotation in the adult patient.

For a period of four years, five adult patients with nonrotation of the intestine and midgut volvulus have been treated. Two distinct clinical presentations were encountered. The chronic presentation is that of colicky abdominal pain, often present for many years, which is corrected by surgical intervention. The acute presentation with strangulation of the intestine may occur without pre-existing symptoms. Knowledge of this entity and a high index of suspicion are necessary for the diagnosis because massive gangrene of the intestine may result from a delay in treatment. Prophylactic surgical treatment in the asymptomatic patient is recommended to prevent this catastrophic occurrence.