Abomasal volvulus

Abstract

Abomasal volvulus is an acute disease with sudden onset, often progressing to severe illness and death with 2-4 days. It results from the rotation of a loop formed by the abomasum, omasum and the proximal part of the duodenum around an axis through the lesser omentum. Abomasal volvulus differs from simple right-side displacement of the abomasum (RDA) in that the organs not only are distended, but are twisted to form a closed loop obstruction. Proximally, the obstruction occurs at the reticulo-omasal junction, or less commonly at the omaso-abomasal junction. Distally, the site of obstruction is in the cranial part of the duodenum, midway between the pylorus and the sigmoid.