Background Emergency conditions requiring exploratory laparotomy (EL) can be
challenging. The objective of this study is to describe indications, outcomes, and risk factors
for perioperative mortality (POMR) after non‐trauma EL. Methods This was a prospective
study of patients undergoing non‐trauma EL at four hospitals in Rwanda, South Africa, and
the USA. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with
POMR. Results Over one year, there were 632 EL with the most common indications …

Dear Editor, I read with interest the article written by Rickard et al.[1], who reported 632
exploratory laparotomy (EL) including 18 sigmoid volvulus (SV) and 3 ileosigmoid knotting
(ISK) in Rwanda, South Africa, and the USA. Interestingly, all cases with SV and ISK were
reported from Africa, while there was no case from America. Although SV is rare and ISK is
very rare worldwide, their incidences are relatively common in Eastern Anatolia, where I
practice. My colleagues and I have approximately 54 years of history (from June 1966 to …