Question: What is malrotation?
Answer: Malrotation is a birth defect that occurs when the intestines do not correctly or completely rotate into their normal final position during development. People born with malrotation may develop symptoms and complications, most often when they are babies but sometimes later in life. Some people with malrotation never develop symptoms or complications.
Question: How common is malrotation?
Answer: Experts are not sure how common malrotation is because not all people with malrotation develop signs or symptoms. Some studies suggest that about 1 in 500 people have malrotation.4
Question: Who is more likely to get malrotation?
Answer: Malrotation is most commonly diagnosed in babies. Up to 80 percent of babies with malrotation are diagnosed in the first month of life.5,6
Question: What other health problems do people with malrotation have?
Answer: Children with malrotation may have other birth defects, including defects of the

gastrointestinal (GI) tract
wall of theabdomen
heart
biliary tract
pancreas
Question: What are the complications of malrotation?
Answer: Malrotation can cause volvulus, or twisting, of the small intestine. Malrotation can also cause intestinal obstruction due to bands of mesentery—the tissues that hold the intestines in place—pressing against the duodenum. These problems can lead to serious and life-threatening complications such as

lack of blood flow to the blocked part of the intestine and death of the blood-starved tissues
a perforation, or hole, in the wall of the intestine
peritonitis, an infection of the lining of the abdominal cavity
sepsis, a serious illness that occurs when the body has an overwhelmingimmune systemresponse to an infection
shock
Question: What are the symptoms of malrotation?
Answer: If you or your child has signs or symptoms of malrotation or its complications, you should seek medical help right away.

Common signs of malrotation in babies younger than age 1 include7

vomiting, often withbilein the vomit, which makes it green in color
failure to thrive
pain or tenderness in the abdomen
bloatingof the abdomen
bleeding from therectumor passing bloodystools

In children older than age 1 and adults, common signs and symptoms include7

pain in the abdomen
vomiting
nausea
diarrhea
bloating
constipation
bleeding from the rectum or passing bloody stools
failure to thrive in children

If malrotation and its complications cut off blood flow to the intestines and cause shock, symptoms may include

confusion or unconsciousness
fast heart rate
pale skin
sweating
Question: What causes malrotation?
Answer: Experts don’t know what causes malrotation. However, genes or changes in genes—called mutations—may play a role.
Question: How do doctors diagnose malrotation?
Answer: Doctors diagnose malrotation based on medical and family history, a physical exam, and imaging tests.

Physical exam

During a physical exam, a doctor will check for signs of pain, tenderness, or bloating or visible swelling of the abdomen and may listen to sounds inside the abdomen using a stethoscope. A doctor may also check for signs of shock, such as a rapid pulse or low blood pressure.

Imaging tests

Doctors may use the following imaging tests to diagnose malrotation

x-rays, which use a small amount of radiation to create pictures of the inside of the body
lower GI series, which uses x-rays and a chalky liquid called barium to view thelarge intestine
upper GI series, which uses x-rays and barium to view theupper GI tract, including the small intestine
ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create an image of organs
Question: How do doctors treat malrotation?
Answer: Doctors treat malrotation and its complications with surgery. During surgery, the surgeon may

divide any bands of tissue in the abdomen that are causing complications or might in the future
change the position of the intestines to lower the risk of future complications
untwist any volvulus
remove any parts of the intestines damaged by volvulus
remove theappendix, since malrotation can make it difficult to diagnoseappendicitisif the patient develops this condition in the future