Colonic Volvulus Treatment in India

Myra Das, a 68-year-old retired schoolteacher,...

Myra Das, a 68-year-old retired schoolteacher, lives alone and has a history of chronic constipation. For three days, she experienced severe, cramping abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and an inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement. She initially dismissed it as a bad flare-up but grew frightened when she began vomiting. At the emergency department, a CT scan revealed a sigmoid volvulus. The surgical gastroenterologist explained that a loop of her colon had twisted, cutting off its blood supply, a surgical emergency. He recommended an emergency sigmoid colectomy to untwist the bowel, remove the compromised section, and prevent recurrence. Myra was terrified of surgery but understood the life-threatening nature of her condition. The laparoscopic procedure was successful. Her recovery in the hospital was challenging, with initial pain and anxiety, but she was walking within a day. With support from a visiting nurse, she recovered fully at home over six weeks. Emotionally, she moved from fear and vulnerability, feeling her independence was threatened, to profound relief and gratitude. The experience made her more proactive about her digestive health and connected her to a community support group for seniors.