Midgut volvulus: an unusual case of adolescent abdominal pain

Abstract

Rotational gut abnormalities are generally considered a disease process of the neonatal and pediatric populations. However, they may first become manifest in teenagers and adults, often with disastrous outcomes. A case of a 15-year-old boy who presented in shock with an acute abdomen is presented. His symptoms had been mistaken for 1 week as gastroenteritis. At surgery, he was found to have a midgut volvulus. A differential diagnosis is discussed, as well as an anatomical review and typical symptomatology associated with midgut abnormalities.