Percutaneous endoscopic colostomy to treat recurrent sigmoid volvulus in an almost centenary patient.

ABSTRACT

We report the case of a 96-year-old institutionalized male, with severe dementia, who was admitted to our hospital with sigmoid volvulus. After successful decompression, the patient developed recurrent sigmoid volvulus twice within 76 hours, which required endoscopic repositioning. However, after a new recurrence and rejecting surgery, we chose percutaneous endoscopic colostomy, using the standard gastrostomy technique, in order to fix the mobile intestine to the abdominal wall to prevent torsion. Although observational studies with more cases and longer follow-up are needed, percutaneous endoscopic colostomy could be a safe and effective alternative in patients in whom conventional surgery is considered unsafe or inappropriate.