eMedicine Specialties > General Surgery > Abdomen

Omental Torsion

Author: Alan A Saber, MD, Chief, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Bariatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
Coauthor(s): Raymond D LaRaja, MD, Chairman, Program Director, Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery, Cabrini Medical Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Sep 6, 2007

Introduction

Torsion of the omentum is a condition in which the organ twists on its long axis to such an extent that its vascularity is compromised.

Problem

Although omental torsion is rarely diagnosed preoperatively, knowledge of the entity is important to the surgeon because it mimics the common causes of acute surgical abdomen.

Frequency

Eitel first described omental torsion in 1899; since then, fewer than 250 cases have been reported.

Etiology

Torsion of the omentum may be primary or secondary. In primary torsion, a mobile segment of omentum rotates around a proximal fixed point in the absence of any associated intra-abdominal pathology. Although the precise cause is unknown, both predisposing and precipitating factors in the pathogenesis of the condition can be identified.

Factors that predispose a patient to torsion include anatomical variations of the omentum itself, eg, accessory omentum, bifid omentum, irregular accumulations of omental fat (in patients who are obese), and narrowed omentum pedicle. Any redundancy of omental veins may lead to kinking and twisting around the shorter and tenser arteries. The higher incidence of torsion on the right side of the omentum is related to the greater size and mobility of that side.

Precipitating factors are those causing displacement of the omentum, including trauma, violent exercise, and hyperperistalsis with resultant increased passive movement of the omentum.

Secondary torsion is more common than primary torsion and is associated with preexisting abdominal pathology, including cysts, tumors, foci of intra-abdominal inflammation, postsurgical wounds or scarring, and hernial sacs. Most cases of secondary torsion occur in patients with inguinal hernias.

Pathophysiology

The omentum twists around a pivotal point, usually in a clockwise direction. Venous return is compromised, and the distal omentum becomes congested and edematous. Resultant hemorrhagic extravasation creates a characteristic serosanguineous fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

As the torsion progresses, arterial occlusion leads to acute hemorrhagic infarction and eventual necrosis of the omentum occurs. Spontaneous derotation may be possible and may explain omental adhesions in the right lower quadrant, which are often found during laparotomy and have no clear cause.

Presentation

Torsion of the omentum is difficult to clinically diagnose preoperatively. Accurate preoperative diagnosis was reported in the range of 0.6-4.8%.

Omental torsion usually occurs in adults (of either sex). The twisted portion of the omentum tends to be localized to a right-sided segment, thereby giving rise to the sudden onset of pain and signs of peritoneal irritation on the right side of the abdomen. The condition may be associated with nausea, vomiting, or low-grade fever. An abdominal mass may be palpable in half of the patients.

This right-sided acute pain and rebound tenderness is often mistaken for acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, or twisted ovarian cysts.

At laparotomy, the finding of free serosanguineous fluid in association with a normal appendix, gallbladder, or pelvic organs should alert the surgeon to the possibility of omental torsion.

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