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<strong>Background:</strong> Sigmoid volvulus is an emergency that occurs very frequently in the South American Andean area hospitals. It accounts for over 50% of all intestinal obstructions and still retains high mortality rates. <br /><strong>Objective:</strong> To characterize the management of sigmoid volvulus. <br /><strong>Methods:</strong> A prospective and descriptive study was conducted including all patients with sigmoid volvulus who attended three general community hospitals of the Cuban medical mission in Bolivia from June 2006 to June 2007 and were treated trough general surgery. We analyzed the following variables: age, sex, medical history, surgical diagnosis, classification and type of surgery, surgery performed, evolution, complications, use of antibiotic-prophylaxis and admission to intensive care units. The information was obtained from medical records, operative reports and a data collector model. <br /><strong>Results:</strong> Sigmoid volvulus occurred more frequently in the Yapacaní hospital, department of Santa Cruz; the predominant age group was that from 55 to 64 years old as well as the predominant sex was that of males. Chagas disease was detected in most of the patients studied. Among symptoms those that predominated were distension, abdominal pain and stool detention. Decompression, devolvulation and surgical treatment were the processes followed in all cases, being the Rankin-Mikulicz colostomy the most widely used. No patients underwent a second surgery, and there were no mortality rates. <br /><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Decompression, devolvulation and surgical treatment were the processes followed in all cases, being the Rankin-Mikulicz colostomy the most widely used. Most patients had a satisfactory evolution.