pediatrics
Malrotation of the Bowel
Key Points
During embryonic development, the bowel begins outside the abdominal cavity and then returns to the abdomen and rotates; incomplete rotation may cause bowel obstruction. Patients are often asymptomatic, but some have mild, nonspecific symptoms (eg, reflux) or manifestations of life-threatening bowel obstruction (eg, bilious emesis) due to volvulus. Other malformations, typically gastrointestinal (GI), are present in 30 to 60% of patients. Do GI x-rays and upper GI series and/or barium enema. Do surgical repair for symptomatic infants. 