A clinical study of children with intussusception

Abstract

Background: In early childhood the commonest cause of bowel obstruction is intussusception and is one of the common abdominal emergencies in children younger than 2 yr. Early diagnosis helps to reduce mortality and morbidity. The objective of the study was to find out the pattern of clinical manifestations in children with intussusception and the outcome. Methods: A hospital based descriptive study using purposive sampling technique. 52 children below 12 years of age with a radiological diagnosis of intussusception attended the Emergency, outpatient and inpatient departments of Jubilee Mission Hospital, Thrissur Kerala (Tertiary care teaching hospital) were evaluated, during the study period from January 2012 to October 2012. Results: Outcome of the problem was correlated with age, sex, symptoms, risk factors sonological findings treatment protocol and duration of hospital stay. Total 52 children of intussusception were managed during the 10 month period (2012) male to female ratio was 2.05 :1. The common symptoms were vomiting (76.9%) excessive cry (65.38%) blood in stool (53.8%) abdominal pain (34.6%) and irritability (25%). Ileocolic intussusception (88.4%) was the commonest type. Conclusions: 42 children (80.76%) of the present study underwent hydrostatic reduction successfully. 4 children needed surgery. self-reduction occurred in 6 children (11.53%). The median hospital stay was 2 days and 39 children (75%) went home within 48 hrs. 9 children (17.3%) of the study population developed complications. 4 (7.69%) had shock. 2 each (3.84%) had perforation, peritonitis and septicaemia.