FP7.9 - Caecal Volvulus with Ischaemia in Pregnancy Requiring Right Hemicolectomy

Abstract Background Caecal volvulus is a rare but significant pathology, accounting for 1-3% of all bowel obstructions. There are only 3 published case reports in pregnancy, and there is often a significant delay in diagnosis. Presentation A patient in her 30s was 22 weeks pregnant with her first baby conceived through IVF. She presented with a 2 hour history of severe epigastric pain and vomiting. Inflammatory markers were normal with lactate 3.5, which normalised after fluids. This was her third presentation of pain during pregnancy. She was treated as gastritis and kept in for observation. An ultrasound demonstrated free fluid with no cause. The patient remained in severe pain and repeat bloods demonstrated worsening inflammatory markers. By this time, MRI was no longer available so a CT occurred at 9pm which showed caecal volvulus with acute ischaemia. Treatment At emergency laparotomy, the diagnosis of caecal volvulus was confirmed with a non-viable ascending colon but no perforation or enteric contamination. A right hemicolectomy with ileocolic anastomosis was performed. She was admitted to ITU post-operatively, then stepped down to the ward on day 2 where she continued to make a good recovery and was discharged on day 5. Conclusion Caecal volvulus is a recognised cause of mechanical bowel obstruction in pregnancy but can be difficult to diagnose. Optimum outcome of surgical complications in pregnancy relies on optimum treatment of the mother. Pregnant patients with pain out of proportion to their clinical presentation need a low threshold for cross-sectional imaging, which should be discussed promptly with radiology.