Patterns of Small Bowel Volvulus in North - Eastern Ethiopia

Background Small bowel volvulus ( SBV) is a condition where the small bowel loops coil around the axis of its own mesentery which can lead to mechanical intestinal obstruction. It contributes significant number of patients at surgical emergency with small bowel obstruction (SBO) especially in developing countries. The main objective of this study was to assess the clinical and epidemiological status of SBV in North-Eastern Ethiopia. Method The study was conducted at Dessie Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital (DCSH). The study period was on November 2023 G.C. Hospital (facility) based retrospective cross sectional study design was used and data was collected with a standardized structured checklist. Data was collected from medical records of adult patients with discharge diagnosis of small bowel obstruction in a four (4) years period from September 1, 2019 G.C to August 31, 2023 G.C. Cross tabulation analysis was done for factors which contributed for mortality and morbidity of SBV. Result A total of about 162 patient with SBV were included in the study accounting about 37.2% of patients with SBO with annual occurrence rate of about 40.6 patients. The mean age of patients was 47 years. Majority of them (152(93.8%)) were males. The common seasons at presentation were during September - November and March - May. All participants had abdominal pain and vomiting but 159(98.1%) and 143(88.3%) had abdominal distension and constipation respectively. Eighty five (52.5%) of patients with SBV presented within 24hrs of symptom onset and 99(61.1%) had normal CBC result whereas 63(38.9%) of them had leukocytosis. Majority (125(77.1%)) of them were managed with derotation and retrograde milking whereas 12(7.4%) ) were managed with resection and anastomosis and 18(11.1%) undergone band release and derotation. PSBV was seen in 138(85.2%) patients and the remaining 24(14.8%) had SSBV. Conclusion The prevalence of SBV among patients with SBO was 37.2% with 85.2% primary and the remaining 14.8% being secondary type. The annual occurrence rate was about 40.6 patients per year with mean age of 47 years.