Idiopathic and chronic Organo-axial gastric Volvulus, duodenal Ulcer and Haematemesis.

Abstract

Summary: The clinical features and the findings from barium meal studies undertaken in a six-year old female child with haematemesis and malaena stools are presented. The barium meal studies revealed an idiopathic, chronic and asymptomatic organo-axial gastric volvulus and duodenal ulcer. A past medical history of severe burns and haematemesis and a recent oral ingestion of acetylsalicylic acid that was administered by the parents, appeared to have been the causative factors in the peptic ulceration. It is speculated that with the abnormal 'upside-down' stomach facilitating down-pouring of peptic acid juice on the duodenum, the ulcer became chronic.