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Acute intestinal obstruction produced by volvulus of the sigmoid flexure of the colon with complete gangrene is very rare in a child, but that such a patient should not only recover but have a spontaneously developed anastomosis between the descending colon and the upper part of the rectum is unique and, therefore, seems worthy of publication.
Volvulus, or twisting of the intestines, may occur in any portion of the gastrointestinal tract but is most commonly met with in the sigmoid flexure, the cecum and the ascending colon. It is predisposed to by an abnormally long mesentery combined with a narrow base between the afferent and the efferent loops. The presence of adhesions and tumors in the mesentery or in the bowel itself is often a contributing factor. Constipation unquestionably plays an important role. It occurs more often in males than in females, usually affects persons beyond middle life and accounts