# Cecal volvulus after open right hepatectomy

## TL;DR

A rare case of cecal volvulus, a type of bowel obstruction, occurred after a liver surgery in a 70-year-old patient, requiring emergency treatment.

## Contribution

This is the first documented case of cecal volvulus following right hepatectomy.

## Key findings

- Cecal volvulus was identified as a complication after open right hepatectomy.
- Emergency surgery was required due to sepsis and bowel obstruction.
- Postoperative paralysis and altered anatomy likely contributed to the volvulus.

## Abstract

Cecal volvulus, a rare cause of postoperative bowel obstruction, involves the twisting of the cecum and its mesentery, leading to the risk of ischemia. We present a case of cecal volvulus following open right hepatectomy in a patient in her 70s with no prior abdominal surgeries. On postoperative day six, after developing abdominal distension and pain, a CT scan revealed bowel obstruction and a cecal volvulus was suspected. Emergency laparotomy confirmed cecal volvulus with a highly mobile cecum, necessitating right hemicolectomy with end-ileostomy due to sepsis. The patient’s recovery was prolonged due to complications, including postoperative paralysis and fascial dehiscence. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of cecal volvulus following right hepatectomy, likely due to altered anatomy and postoperative paralysis. This case underscores the importance of considering cecal volvulus in postoperative obstruction cases, especially following surgeries affecting right-sided visceral structures.