A rare case of acute on chronic gastric volvulus with Borchardt's triad.

Abstract

Gastric volvulus is a rare condition with two forms of presentation, either acute or chronic. Since its discovery, there have been no cases of acute on chronic volvulus discussed in the literature. Its vague presentation makes diagnosis and subsequent management difficult. The diagnosis of acute gastric volvulus is made on clinical grounds via Borchardt's triad; however, barium swallow and oesophagogastroduodenoscopy have been shown to play a role. We describe a case of a 95-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with worsening dysphagia, epigastric pain, retching without vomiting and hiccups of 5 months. Initially diagnosed as a hiatus hernia, the patient subsequently died following an acute on chronic gastric volvulus. This rare, life-threatening diagnosis provides an opportunity to discuss characteristics of gastric volvulus and the difficulties in management.

• Authors: Andrew Senior, Churunal Hari
• Journal: Journal of surgical case reports (J Surg Case Rep) Vol. 2014 Issue 11 (Nov 20 2014) ISSN: 2042-8812 [Print] England
• PMID: 25413999 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. © The Author 2014.