Postpartum Acute Intestinal Intussusception: A Case Report with Literature Review of a “Pediatric Pathology in an Adult”

Abstract

Introduction: Intestinal intussusception is defined as the penetration of a proximal segment of the intestine into a distal segment, leading to intestinal obstruction. It is a common cause of small bowel obstruction in children. This pathology is rare in adults and represents only 1% of all cases of intestinal obstruction. We report a case of ileoileal intestinal intussusception in a 26-years-old adult woman, complicating postpartum eclampsia. Case Presentation: This was a 26-years patient being treated for eclampsia associated with HELLP syndrome and complicated with acute kidney injury. The diagnosis of intussusception was made based on a clinical bowel obstruction syndrome and confirmed with ultrasounography. The management consisted of laparotomy with surgical resection of the invaginated bowel segment. Conclusion: Intestinal intussusception is mainly a childhood pathology which may exceptionally occur in adults. The degree of bowel and hence abdominal distension caused by intestinal obstruction justifies surgical exploration, with subsequent resection of invaginated segment as a therapeutic intervention.