[Volvulus of the right colon. Plea for right hemicolectomy. Apropos of a series of 23 cases].

Twenty-three patients with volvulus of the caecum were operated on from 1982 to 1995. There were 17 men and 6 women, mean age 63 years. Preoperative diagnosis was obtained in 48% of the cases. A right hemicolectomy was performed in 22 cases with immediate anastomosis; in one case, a double ilial and transverse stomy was required. Necrosis was observe in 12 patients (52%). Post-operative mortality was 8.6% (n = 2) due to circulatory shock in 2 patients with necrosis of the colon. Post-operative morbidity was 21% (n = 5) including one case with fistulization of the anastomosis requiring a double stomy. On the basis of this series and a review of the literature, it appears that right hemicolectomy is the treatment of choice for volvulus of the right colon, as it avoids all risk of recurrence and mortality is lower than conservative treatment.