Background: Gastric volvulus (GV) occurs when the stomach abnormally rotates around one of its axes and is a rare upper gastrointestinal obstruction. We present an unusual case of intrathoracic GV associated with delayed manifestation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Methods: A 16-month-old female infant presented with a history of projectile non-bilious vomiting for 2 days and mild hematemesis for the last day. Physical examination showed epigastric fullness and pain with abdominal palpation. Complaints of the patient disappeared on the 2nd day after hospital admission. On the 6th day non-bilious vomiting started again and an epigastric mass was palpable. Contrast study of the stomach after oral barium administration showed the mesenteroaxial volvulus of the stomach. At laparotomy, the association of non-necrotic intrathoracic GV with intrathoracic spleen was confirmed. Moreover, the diaphragm presented a giant posterolateral hernia of the left dome. Diaphragmatic repair was performed in addition to gastropexy and splenopexy.

Results: The postoperative course was uneventful and the child was discharged on the 5th post-operative day. On follow up after one month, clinical examination and plain abdominal X-ray were normal.

Conclusions: GV is a clinical emergency which can be life-threatening for children. Upper gastrointestinal study and CT scan with contrast meal are helpful in the diagnosis of the lesion. We emphasize prompt surgical therapy to avoid gastric necrosis.

Key words: congenital diaphragmatic hernia; gastric volvulus; wandering spleen

                   World J Pediatr 2009;5(3):226-228