A case of acute sigmoid volvulus in a 14-year-old adolescent girl presenting with acute low large bowel obstruction with a background of chronic constipation has been presented. Abdominal radiograph and CT scan helped in diagnosis. She underwent emergency colonoscopic detorsion and decompression uneventfully. Lower gastrointestinal contrast study showed very redundant sigmoid colonic loop without any transition zone and she subsequently underwent elective sigmoid colectomy with good outcome. The sigmoid volvulus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of paediatric acute abdomen presenting with marked abdominal distention, absolute constipation and pain but without vomiting. Plain abdominal radiograph and the CT scan are helpful to confirm the diagnosis. Early colonoscopic detorsion and decompression allows direct visualisation of the vascular compromise, assessment of band width of the volvulus and can reduce complications and mortality. Associated Hirschsprung's disease should be suspected if clinical and radiological features are suggestive in which case a rectal biopsy before definitive surgery should be considered.

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An 85-year-old man was referred to our department, with a three-day history of increasing shortness of breath. Following clinical and radiological assessment, diaphragmatic herniation of bowel was identified to be causing mediastinal shift and respiratory distress. An emergency laparotomy identified a massive diaphragmatic defect which was not amenable to primary closure. A colopexy procedure was performed to comparmentalise the abdomen and obliterate the diaphragmatic defect. Despite aggressive treatment in the intensive care unit he died from multi-organ failure. This case highlights an extremely rare and life-threatening cause of mediastinal shift and respiratory distress.

We describe the case of a previously healthy 12-year-old boy admitted to a tertiary paediatric centre with the clinical diagnosis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). Symptoms on admission included a generalised rash, colicky abdominal pain, hypertension, proteinuria and fresh rectal bleeding. Abdominal pain and distension worsened and serial ultrasounds suggested bowel ischaemia. He underwent repeat laparotomy and bowel resection, with slow improvement after the second laparotomy. The severity of systemic involvement (gastrointestinal, cardiac, renal and skin) made the initial diagnosis of HSP questionable. Immunohistochemistry of skin biopsies was negative for HSP. Histopathology of the bowel specimen revealed features of necrotising small and medium vessel vasculitis in keeping with polyarteritis nodosa.