Case Report - Acute small bowel volvulus: two cases managed in rural practice

Two cases of acute small bowel volvulus (SBV) with gangrene, which were successfully treated in a nursing home in a rural set-up are presented. Agriculture is the main occupation in this area. Poverty, poor transport facilities, delayed referral from peripheral doctors, and lack of institutional facilities are some of the problems faced by us while treating patients with acute abdomen. In such a situation, where modern diagnostic tools are not available, knowledge of reported cases will certainly help in the diagnosis and further treatment. While practising surgery in a rural set-up, an exploratory laparotomy often remains the only diagnostic and therapeutic method in the absence of modern diagnostic tools.