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Description
A 87-year-old gentleman presented as an acute admission with abdominal distension and inability to open his bowels for the preceding 4 days. His co-morbidities included Down’s syndrome, moderate learning disabilities, osteoarthritis and hypertension. He was known to suffer from recurrent sigmoid volvulus which was extensively investigated. Colonoscopy did not reveal any intraluminal pathology and CT scan was unremarkable except for a large, floppy sigmoid colon. Due to his age and co-morbidities it was deemed that he would not be a candidate for sigmoid colectomy. On this admission abdominal radiograph confirmed the presence of a sigmoid volvulus. Bloods including electrolytes were normal. A rectal tube was inserted to decompress the volvulus and connected to a catheter bag for drainage. Both flatus and stool were seen to be passing into the bag during the procedure. When the patient was reviewed the following morning the catheter bag was disconnected and rectal tube was not visible. The abdominal distension had recurred. Rigid sigmoidoscopy was then performed and as no tube was visible, another rectal tube was inserted. When the patient was reviewed later that day the second flatus tube was no longer visible and no resolution of the distension had taken place. Abdominal radiograph revealed two flatus tubes insitu, neither of which were accessible via rigid sigmoidoscopy (figure 1). An urgent flexible sigmoidoscopy was performed and both tubes removed successfully without complication. Although the volvulus was decompressed during the procedure, the patient went on to develop recurrent episodes of volvulus.
Learning points
▶ Flatus tubes should be supervised closely, and appropriate documentation was made to record their position and the contents they drain.
▶ If in any doubt, an abdominal radiograph should be used to determine whether the flatus tube is insitu.
▶ A flatus tube need only be inserted 15–20 cm in length.
Footnotes
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Competing interests None.
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Patient consent Obtained.