[Colonoscopic approach in the therapy of sigmoid volvulus].

We present 13 patients with 15 episodes of colonic volvulus, who underwent colonoscopy to decompress and/or devolvulate. Colonoscopic exploration demonstrated a non obstructive dilatation in three cases. In the remaining 10 patients, with 12 episodes of volvulus, decompression was obtained in 83.3% and devoluvulation in 41.6%. There were two failures, due to peritoneal metastases and adhesions which fixed the volvulus. In 40% of the cases there were mild ischemic signs. Forty per cent of the patients were submitted to elective surgery and the two failures (20%) were operated in emergency. The remaining 4 patients declined surgical treatment. At is allows differential diagnosis, we think that, for these patients, colonoscopy should be the first therapeutic approach; it also allows decompression and/or devolvulation and an early diagnosis of the associated ischemia.