Intussusception in Older Children: A Single Center Experience

Abstract

Background: Intussusception in older children may be less common than intussusception in infants. However, it is a significant cause of bowel obstruction across all age groups. The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience with regards to older children (5 years and above) who were managed for intussusception in a single tertiary center in a developing country. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of children, aged 5 year and above, who presented with intussusception (ultrasound confirmed) over a 5-year period at the pediatric surgery unit of a teaching hospital in Enugu, Nigeria. The information analyzed included the patients’ age (in years), gender, time interval between onset of symptoms and presentation to the hospital, presenting symptoms, operative procedure performed, complications of treatment and outcome of treatment. Results: A total of 378 cases of childhood intussusception were seen during the study period. Out of this number, 18 (4.8%) patients were older than 5 years of age. There was male predominance. Abdominal pain was the most common and consistent symptom in all the patients and majority of the patients had bowel resection (right hemicolectomy with ileotransverse anastomosis). One-fifth of the patient had pathologic lead point (PLP) Wound infection was the most common post-operative complication and one patient expired due to overwhelming sepsis. Conclusion: Although intussusception is more common in infants; it’s occurrence in older children is not uncommon and may be associated with PLP. Non-operative treatment is often ineffective and operative treatment is always required.