INTRODUCTION:This study aims at reporting a case of Chilaiditi Syndrome associated to sigmoidcolon volvulus.
CASE REPORT: Male patient, white, 51 years old, arrives at an emergencyhospital in Pelotas with complaints of stoping the elimination of gases, diffuseabdominal pain, increase of abdominal volume, gradual and progressive inappetence,accepting only liquid. He is diagnosed with mental retardation and a situationof intestinal constipation. An acute abdomen Rx highlighted a diffuse colondistension, suggestive of sigmoid volvulus with tranversum colon image betweenthe liver and the diaphragm. The patient was submitted to exploratory laparotomybeing highlighted sigmoid volvulus, diffuse megacolon and interposition of thetransverse colon between the liver and the diaphragm. Subtotal colectomy withterminal ascending colon colostomy was proceeded. The patient evolved satisfactorilybeing discharged on the 9th day.
DISCUSSION: The interposition of the colon between the liver and thediaphragmatic cupula (Chilaiditi syndrome) associated to sigmoid colon volvulusconstitutes a rare cause of obstructive acute abdomen, though the sigmoid volvulusis one of the main causes of mechanic intestinal obstruction in Brazil. Usuallya clinical treatment is done, although when associated to complications thetreatment is surgical.
