Primary midgut volvulus in adults: report of two cases and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: This is a report of two male patients (35 and 54 years old, respectively) admitted to our surgical department with signs of small-bowel obstruction.

CASE PRESENTATIONS: Diagnostic workup with plain abdominal radiographs and, more specifically, computed tomography suggested the possibility of bowel rotation. In order to exclude any possibility of associated intestinal ischemia, both patients underwent exploratory laparotomy, which revealed a midgut volvulus without any associated obvious cause or pathology.

DISCUSSION: Both patients had an eventful outcome. Epidemiologic characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, surgical treatment, and morbidity-mortality rates of small-bowel volvulus have been reviewed and thoroughly discussed.