Intussusception: Lab Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Objective: Intussusception is the invagination of a proximal portion of the gastrointestinal tract into an adjacent distal portion. This unusual form of bowel obstruction occurs less frequently in adults. We report a case of small bowel intussusception in a 39-year-old African male cadaver in the cadaveric laboratory in the, Department of Human Anatomy at, Uzima University. We have also performed a literature review of this rare condition. Method: Student cadaver groups at Uzima University were assigned with a ratio of 8:1 meaning that eight students received one cadaver to work on. There were a total of nine cadavers. One out of the nine assigned specimens had a lead point in the ileocecal valve resulting in ileocecal intussusception upon dissection. Results: At the ileocecal junction, an intussuscepted distal small bowel was discovered. We concluded it to be an ileocecal intussusception. Conclusion: The rarity of intussusception in adults makes it an exceptional finding in standard anatomy laboratory. Intussusception can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Surgeons should consider intussusception as a severe cause of intestinal obstruction and consequently, anticipate different clinical presentations. Diagnosis of intussusception is difficult to make without surgery, therefore, surgeons need to familiarize themselves with different imaging modalities.