Epidemiology

Intestinal obstruction is a common surgical emergency. It accounts for up to 20% of admissions with acute abdominal pain. Of these patients, around 20% will have large bowel obstruction.[1]​ Obstruction is also the most common indication for emergency surgery for colorectal cancer, comprising up to 80% of such emergencies.[5]​ Similarly, colonic malignancy is the most common cause of large bowel obstruction in adults; approximately 30% of patients with colorectal cancer initially present to an emergency care setting.[4][6][7]​​​ See  Colorectal cancer.

Colonic volvulus leads to between 2 and 15% of all large bowel obstructions in the developed world but this incidence varies globally.[2][8]​​​ Africa, South America, Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India, and Brazil are referred to as the “volvulus belt”, as there is much higher incidence of colonic volvulus in these countries, where it represents 13% to 42% of all intestinal obstructions.[8]​[9][10]​​[11]​​

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