Indications and Limitations of Conservative Treatment for Chronic Gastric Volvulus in Children

Purpose Chronic gastric volvulus in children is generally well managed with conservative treatment; however, this may not always be successful. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of conservative treatment for pediatric chronic gastric volvulus. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with chronic gastric volvulus in our hospital between January 2013 and September 2023. Gastric volvulus was diagnosed based on upper gastrointestinal studies or characteristic radiographic findings. The collected data included patient characteristics, types of gastric volvulus, methods and success rates of conservative treatment, and details of any surgical interventions performed. Results A total of 51 patients were included in this study. Of these, 80% were aged ≤ 12 months. The overall success rate of conservative treatment was 94%. The most common conservative approaches included defecation support (75%) and encouragement of burping (61%). Success rates varied by age group, with 100% success observed in patients aged ≤ 5 years. Three patients, aged 9, 12, and 14 years, underwent laparoscopic gastropexy. Conclusion Chronic gastric volvulus in young children responded well to conservative treatment. In contrast, school-aged children were more likely to require surgical intervention.