A 36-year-old female at 36 weeks\' gestation presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. She had no prior surgeries. Her pregnancy had been uncomplicated up until her presentation. Abdominal ultrasound was negative for cholecystitis or cholelithiasis, and the appendix was not visualized. During the second day of her hospital course, an abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed revealing dilated small intestine with air-fluid levels and an inverted-appearing, prominent cecum. She was urgently taken to the operating room for cesarean section followed by abdominal exploration. After delivery of the child, a cecal bascule was found, with a severely distended cecum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a cecal bascule diagnosed by MRI, and the first diagnosis of cecal bascule in a pregnant patient requiring surgical intervention. We discuss the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of cecal bascule and review the current literature of reported cases.

Background Caecal volvulus (CV) is a rare cause of bowel obstruction. However, there has been a steady rise in the number of cases over the decades. The demographic profile of patients developing CV has changed to a much older population. We conducted a retrospective review to determine the incidence, demographic profile, management, and outcomes of CV patients in our institution during the last nine years. Methodology A retrospective audit of all patients diagnosed with CV at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust between 01 January 2011 and 31 March 2020 was performed. Patients admitted with any other type of volvuli such as sigmoid volvulus, small bowel volvulus, and gastric volvulus were excluded. A systematic search of the electronic medical records for all patients admitted under the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code K562: volvulus was performed for the study duration. It yielded a total of 1,019 patients. After excluding all patients who did not have either a CV or caecal bascule, we included 36 patients in the final analysis. Results Most of our patients were females (78%) with a median age was 76 years. The majority (86%) had at least one medical comorbidity, and 36% had a previous abdominal operation. Abdominal pain was the main complaint in 94% of patients. All patients had undergone a computed tomography (CT) scan to confirm their diagnosis. Most of our patients (84%) underwent surgery. Open right hemicolectomy was the most commonly performed operation (87%). Out of the six patients who did not undergo surgery, three responded to bowel rest and nasogastric tube decompression; one patient underwent successful colonoscopic decompression. In contrast, two patients, unfortunately, passed away. The median length of hospital stay was nine days, with a 30-day mortality of 3%. Conclusions CV remains a rare cause of bowel obstruction. Most of our patients were old, frail, and had medical comorbidities. More than one-third of patients had undergone previous abdominal surgery. Early CT scan followed by right hemicolectomy was associated with low mortality.

Caecal volvulus is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction, of which the caecal bascule is the most uncommonly encountered subtype. Definitive radiological diagnosis of a caecal bascule can be challenging. Lack of familiarity with this rare condition can contribute to delayed diagnosis and treatment, which may result in unnecessary morbidity. This article highlights the case of a patient who presented with a diagnostic challenge, and also discusses the pathogenesis and diagnostic features of caecal bascules. Various options in the surgical management of caecal bascules are reviewed, including the feasibility of laparoscopic-assisted approaches in the emergency setting.

This report is of a rare case involving a 27-year-old female who presented to the hospital with the pathological couplet of colocolic intussusception and cecal bascule causing bowel obstruction. Up to the time of presentation to the hospital, this patient had not undergone a full investigation for a known iron deficiency, anemia. Subsequently, during the emergency admission and after having an operative surgical procedure, the patient was found to have both a congenitally malpositioned cecum and a benign colonic polyp-forming condition. The pertinent issues about this unusual case to be highlighted are its ambiguous clinical presentation; uncommon gender and age group for either condition; the simultaneous occurrence of dual anatomical anomalies; and the uncommon benign etiology of causes of bowel obstruction in adults.

BACKGROUND: Caecal bascule is a rare condition characterized by the inferior pole of the caecum folding on a horizontal axis antero-superiorly towards the ascending colon, potentially causing obstruction. An unusual variant of volvulus, diagnosis is challenging due to its obscurity. We present the experience of an Australian tertiary-referral hospital with the diagnosis/management of caecal bascule, and review cases reported in the literature to raise awareness of this uncommon diagnosis.
METHODS: Medical records of patients diagnosed with caecal bascule during 2001-2016 were reviewed. Data relating to their presentation, investigations, management and outcomes were obtained. A literature search was conducted through PubMed and Medline databases.
RESULTS: Caecal bascule was diagnosed in four patients (median age: 60.5 (range: 48-75) years, two females). Patients presented with abdominal pain (4/4), distension (3/4), vomiting (3/4) and confusion (1/4) over a 1- to 4-day period. Computed tomography identified caecal displacement in three cases, and bascule was diagnosed at laparotomy in all cases. All patients underwent right hemicolectomy, with primary ileo-colic anastomosis in three cases and formation of Abcarian stoma in one case. Median length of stay was 15.5 days (range: 10-24), with no mortality. Fifteen cases of caecal bascule have been reported in the literature to date, with authors suggesting resection as definitive treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Correct diagnosis of caecal bascule requires a high index of suspicion and avoids delay of appropriate management. Recent operation, particularly laparoscopic cholecystectomy, may be contributing factors. Resection is recommended, a sentiment echoed by reported cases in the literature.

BACKGROUND: Caecal bascule is an infrequent type of caecal volvulus. It appears when the caecum folds upon itself, causing an intestinal obstruction. It is usually diagnosed using imaging techniques or intra-operatively. A constrictive band related to previous abdominal surgery is frequently present, and acts as an inflexion point that results in a closed loop obstruction of the ascending colon. It has been reported in young women and in elderly hospitalised patients. The aim of this report is to describe the clinical features, diagnostic difficulties, and management strategies of this unusual entity.
METHODS: An 83-year-old male with concurrent acute neurological illness presented with history of intestinal obstruction. Because of a previous right nephrectomy, postoperative adhesions were suspected and conservative treatment initiated. As no improvement was seen, a computed tomography scan was obtained. Abdominal tomography showed an intestinal obstruction and a caecal bascule with vascular compromise. A right colectomy was performed.
CONCLUSIONS: Caecal bascule is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. The suspicion should be heightened when caecal ectopic dilation is present. Computed tomography scan is the preferred imaging technique, especially for ill patients. Right colectomy and primary anastomosis is the most appropriate surgical technique. Awareness of this entity can prevent the high morbidity and mortality rates of this condition.