BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuVolvulus - childhoodChildhood volvulus; Abdominal pain - volvulusA volvulus is a twisting of the intestine that can occur in childhood. It causes a blockage that may cut off blood flow. Part of the intestine may be damaged as a result. Causes A birth defect called intestinal malrotation can make an infant more likely to develop a volvulus. However, a volvulus can occur without this condition present. Volvulus due to malrotation occurs most often in the first year of life. Symptoms Common symptoms of volvulus are:Bloody or dark red stools Dark red stoolsBlack or tarry stools with a foul smell are a sign of a problem in the upper digestive tract. It most often indicates that there is bleeding in the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Constipation or difficulty releasing stools ConstipationConstipation in infants and children means they have hard stools or have problems passing stools. A child may have pain while passing stools or may ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Distended abdomen Distended abdomenAbdominal bloating is a condition in which the belly (abdomen) feels full and tight. Your belly may look swollen (distended).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pain or tenderness in the abdomen Nausea or vomiting Shock ShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting green material Symptoms are very often severe and require emergency care. Early treatment can be critical for survival. Exams and Tests Your health care provider may order the following tests to diagnose the condition:Barium enema Barium enemaBarium enema is a special x-ray of the large intestine, which includes the colon and rectum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests to check electrolytes ElectrolytesElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stool guaiac (shows blood in the stool) Stool guaiacThe stool guaiac test looks for hidden (occult) blood in a stool sample. It can find blood even if you cannot see it yourself. It is a common type ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Upper GI series Upper GIAn upper GI and small bowel series is a set of x-rays taken to examine the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Barium enema is a related test th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment In some cases, colonoscopy can be used to correct the problem. This involves use of a flexible tube with a light on the end that is passed into the colon (large bowel) through the rectum.ColonoscopyA colonoscopy is an exam that views the inside of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using a tool called a colonoscope. The colonoscope has a sm...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Emergency surgery is often needed to repair the volvulus. A surgical cut is made in the abdomen. The bowels are untwisted and the blood supply is restored.If a small segment of bowel is dead from a lack of blood flow (necrotic), it is removed. The ends of the bowel are then sewn together. Or, they are used to form a connection of the intestines to the outside of the body (colostomy or ileostomy). Bowel contents can be removed through this opening. Outlook (Prognosis) Most of the time, prompt diagnosis and treatment of volvulus leads to a good outcome.If the bowel is dead, the outlook is poor. The situation may be fatal, depending on how much of the bowel is dead. Possible Complications Possible complications of volvulus are:Secondary peritonitis Secondary peritonitisThe peritoneum is the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen. Peritonitis is present when...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Short bowel syndrome (after removal of a large part of the small bowel) Short bowel syndromeShort bowel syndrome is a problem that occurs when part of the small intestine is missing or has been removed during surgery. Nutrients are not prop...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional This is an emergency condition. The symptoms of childhood volvulus develop quickly and the child will become very ill. Get medical attention right away if this happens.Open ReferencesReferencesMaqbool A, Liacouras CA. Major symptoms and signs of digestive tract disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 332.Mokha J. Vomiting and nausea. In: Wyllie R, Hyams JS, Kay M, eds. Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 8.Srinath A, Rudolph JA. Nutrition and gastroenterology. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 11.Thomas N, Wu AW. Large intestine. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 81.AllVideoImagesTogVolvulus - illustration An intestinal obstruction is a partial or complete blockage that results in the failure of the intestinal contents to pass through the bowel. A volvulus is a twisting of the bowel on itself. It is one cause of intestinal obstruction.VolvulusillustrationVolvulus - X-ray - illustration A GI series in a patient with a twisted bowel (volvulus).Volvulus - X-rayillustrationVolvulus - illustration An intestinal obstruction is a partial or complete blockage that results in the failure of the intestinal contents to pass through the bowel. A volvulus is a twisting of the bowel on itself. It is one cause of intestinal obstruction.VolvulusillustrationVolvulus - X-ray - illustration A GI series in a patient with a twisted bowel (volvulus).Volvulus - X-rayillustrationRelated Information Fetal development(Special Topic)Intestinal obstruction and Ileus(Condition)Abdominal pain(Symptoms)Shock(Injury)Peritonitis - secondary(Condition)Short bowel syndrome(Condition) Review Date: 7/30/2022 Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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Volvulus - childhoodChildhood volvulus; Abdominal pain - volvulusA volvulus is a twisting of the intestine that can occur in childhood. It causes a blockage that may cut off blood flow. Part of the intestine may be damaged as a result. Causes A birth defect called intestinal malrotation can make an infant more likely to develop a volvulus. However, a volvulus can occur without this condition present. Volvulus due to malrotation occurs most often in the first year of life. Symptoms Common symptoms of volvulus are:Bloody or dark red stools Dark red stoolsBlack or tarry stools with a foul smell are a sign of a problem in the upper digestive tract. It most often indicates that there is bleeding in the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Constipation or difficulty releasing stools ConstipationConstipation in infants and children means they have hard stools or have problems passing stools. A child may have pain while passing stools or may ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Distended abdomen Distended abdomenAbdominal bloating is a condition in which the belly (abdomen) feels full and tight. Your belly may look swollen (distended).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pain or tenderness in the abdomen Nausea or vomiting Shock ShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting green material Symptoms are very often severe and require emergency care. Early treatment can be critical for survival. Exams and Tests Your health care provider may order the following tests to diagnose the condition:Barium enema Barium enemaBarium enema is a special x-ray of the large intestine, which includes the colon and rectum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests to check electrolytes ElectrolytesElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stool guaiac (shows blood in the stool) Stool guaiacThe stool guaiac test looks for hidden (occult) blood in a stool sample. It can find blood even if you cannot see it yourself. It is a common type ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Upper GI series Upper GIAn upper GI and small bowel series is a set of x-rays taken to examine the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Barium enema is a related test th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment In some cases, colonoscopy can be used to correct the problem. This involves use of a flexible tube with a light on the end that is passed into the colon (large bowel) through the rectum.ColonoscopyA colonoscopy is an exam that views the inside of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using a tool called a colonoscope. The colonoscope has a sm...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Emergency surgery is often needed to repair the volvulus. A surgical cut is made in the abdomen. The bowels are untwisted and the blood supply is restored.If a small segment of bowel is dead from a lack of blood flow (necrotic), it is removed. The ends of the bowel are then sewn together. Or, they are used to form a connection of the intestines to the outside of the body (colostomy or ileostomy). Bowel contents can be removed through this opening. Outlook (Prognosis) Most of the time, prompt diagnosis and treatment of volvulus leads to a good outcome.If the bowel is dead, the outlook is poor. The situation may be fatal, depending on how much of the bowel is dead. Possible Complications Possible complications of volvulus are:Secondary peritonitis Secondary peritonitisThe peritoneum is the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen. Peritonitis is present when...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Short bowel syndrome (after removal of a large part of the small bowel) Short bowel syndromeShort bowel syndrome is a problem that occurs when part of the small intestine is missing or has been removed during surgery. Nutrients are not prop...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional This is an emergency condition. The symptoms of childhood volvulus develop quickly and the child will become very ill. Get medical attention right away if this happens.Open ReferencesReferencesMaqbool A, Liacouras CA. Major symptoms and signs of digestive tract disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 332.Mokha J. Vomiting and nausea. In: Wyllie R, Hyams JS, Kay M, eds. Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 8.Srinath A, Rudolph JA. Nutrition and gastroenterology. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 11.Thomas N, Wu AW. Large intestine. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 81.