Hydrostatic reducibility of intussusception among different age groups in paediatric population-a descriptive study

Abstract

Background: Intussusception is one of the most frequent causes of bowel obstruction in infants and toddlers. In children, it is often an idiopathic condition and treated non-surgically by radiologic reduction. Primary aim of study was to analyse the outcome of hydrostatic reduction of intussusception across different paediatric age group patients admitted in a medical college hospital.Methods: This is a hospital based descriptive study conducted in tertiary care centre for one year duration in 2014-2015. 90 patients admitted with diagnosis of intussusceptions for hydrostatic reduction were interviewed with the proforma and details were collected. The procedural detail of hydrostatic reduction was also collected. Patients were followed up for a period of 48 hours post successful hydrostatic reduction.Results: Hydrostatic reducibility of intussusception was 63.3% in less than 3 months age group compared to 93.3% each in other two groups. Overall hydrostatic reducibility was of 83.3%, while 16.7% went for laparotomy. First group had 36.7% cases gone for laparotomy. Analysis of each of the study variables was done to find out their association with hydrostatic reducibility. Only duration, bleeding per rectum, lethargy, dehydration, side of lesion and total count were found to have a statistically significant p value. Logistic regression analysis of the above five variables revealed that only the ‘duration of symptoms’ had a statistically significant independent association with hydrostatic reducibility of intussusception ,with a p value of 0.033 and odds ratio 12.477. 5.3% of cases of first group had recurrence within 48 hours of hydrostatic reduction, while 10.7% and 21.4% of cases from second and third group respectively had recurrence within 48 hours of reduction. Overall recurrence of intussusception within 48hours is 13.3%.Conclusions: Hydrostatic reduction of intussusception is more successful in paediatric age group > 3 months compared to < 3 months. Shorter duration of symptoms, especially < 48 hours may have a favourable effect on hydrostatic reducibility of pediatric intussusception. Rate of recurrence of intussusception within 48 hours of successful hydrostatic reduction is 13.3 per 100 paediatric cases.