Malrotation of Small Bowel with Midgut Volvulus in a COVID-19 Positive Young Male: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Malrotation of small bowel with midgut volvulus has a very low incidence of 0.2% in adults. Symptomatic malrotation in neonates occur in one in 6000 live births. The normal 270 degrees counter-clockwise gut rotation around the axis of superior mesenteric artery is absent in such cases. A 20-year-old male presented with intermittent colicky abdominal pain since four to five months, post-prandial bilious vomiting since one week and obstipation since two days. He also had difficulty breathing since two days. Abdominal examination revealed vague lump in right lower abdomen with no signs of peritonitis. Radiological investigations Ultrasonography (USG) and Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) abdomen demonstrated over distended stomach with dilated D1 and D2 showing changes in relation to superior mesenteric artery and superior mesenteric vein with rotation of mesentery in whirlpool pattern. His Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (RT-PCR) was positive for Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Conservative trial for two days was followed by surgical exploration which revealed gut malrotation with mid-gut volvulus. Ladd’s procedure was performed. Malrotation with midgut volvulus is an acute surgical emergency that demands high index of suspicion in an adult. Associated COVID-19 pneumonia can increase mortality. Patient was followed-up after three weeks with fruitful results, proving that an early diagnosis and definitive surgical correction of malrotation with midgut volvulus is essential.