Pediatric intussusception in a Saudi Arabian tertiary hospital

Abstract

There are various methods of diagnosing and treating pediatric intussusception. This is an indication that no single method is acceptable to all and no single method is ideal for all cases. Because of this, we reviewed the cases and management of intussusception, seen at Aseer Central Hospital over a 7-year period. Thirty four pediatric patients admitted at Aseer Central Hospital over a 7-year period (from 1993 to 2000) at Aseer Central Hospital, Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia were reviewed. These are by no means all the cases of intussusception seen during this period. Adult cases and incomplete records of pediatric cases were not included in this series. The 34 cases that met the objectives of this paper were analyzed with regards to the age group distribution, sex, nationality, type and site of intussusception, the cause of intussusception, the method of diagnosis and the treatment given, were also reviewed. Their case files were reviewed and used for the analysis. The age range was 2 months to 8 years (Mean = 10.86 months). There were 21 boys and 13 girls, a male: female ratio of 1.6:1.0. All (100%) presented with vomiting, 91% with bloody stools and 82% with colicky abdominal pain. Twenty-eight patients (82.3%) had diagnostic barium enema, and 8 of these were successfully reduced. Exploratory laparotomy was performed for 26 patients and 6 of this required surgical resection. There was no mortality in this series, but one patient had a wound dehiscence which was treated conservatively. The management of pediatric intussusception depends on the presentation, the available facilities and the expertise of the treating surgeons.