Recurrent idiopathic small bowel volvulus during pregnancy

Concurrent sigmoid volvulus and herniation through broad ligament defect during pregnancy: Case report and literature review

“…However, appendicitis is the most common non‐obstetric cause of surgery in pregnancy with an incidence of one in 1500 6 . The incidence of bowel obstruction in pregnancy ranges from one in 1500 to one in 66 431 2 …”

“…In pregnancy, the most common cause of intestinal obstruction is adhesion (60%), followed by volvulus (25%, mainly due to sigmoid or cecal volvulus, as small bowel volvulus accounts for only 3% of all volvulus cases). Intussusception accounts for 5% of bowel obstruction in pregnancy, carcinoma (3.5%), hernia (1.5%) and appendicitis (0.5%) 2 …”

“…Interestingly, sigmoid volvulus is much more common in pregnancy than in non‐pregnant women, 7 especially during the period of a rapid change in uterine size. Up to 50% of volvulus occurs in the last trimester and 26% occurs in the puerperium 2 . The possible explanation for this is due to the change in size of the uterus, which may displace the abnormally mobile sigmoid colon out of the pelvis and that pressure from the uterus may cause kinking in the colon where it is fixed to the pelvic wall 7 …”

“…Most commonly, intestinal obstruction in pregnancy is due to adhesion. Less commonly, intestinal volvulus, intussusception, carcinoma, hernia and appendicitis have been reported 2,3 . Until 1996, 73 cases of sigmoid volvulus complicating pregnancy have been reported 1 .…”