Abstract
Background: Intussusception is a common cause of intestinal obstruction in infants. The aim of study was to evaluate our experience in the management of children who presented with uncomplicated intussusception. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of children (12 months and younger) who were treated for uncomplicated intussusception (ultrasound confirmed) between January 2014 and December 2018, at the pediatric surgery unit of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) Enugu, Nigeria. Results: There were 255 cases of intussusception seen during the 5-year study period. Out of this number, 85 (33.3%) patients had uncomplicated intussusception. There was male predominance and the ages of the patients ranged from 4 to 12 months with a mean age of 6 months. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom in the patients. On the average, one-fifth of the patients had a preceding history of respiratory and enteral infection. Half of the patients had a hemoglobin level of less than 10g/dl at presentation. Abdominal ultrasound was the imaging modality of choice and was diagnostic in all the patients. Three-quarters of the patients were successfully treated by hydrostatic reduction and there was recurrence of intussusception in 2 patients. There was no mortality. Conclusion: Only one-third of our patients present with uncomplicated intussusception during the study period. Non-operative (hydrostatic reduction) treatment is an effective modality of treatment for uncomplicated intussusception.
Highlights
Intussusception is the invagination of a segment of the bowel into another segment
Non-operative treatment is an effective modality of treatment for uncomplicated intussusception
This was a retrospective study of children who were treated for uncomplicated intussusception between January 2014 and December 2018, at the pediatric surgery unit of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) Enugu, Nigeria
Summary
Intussusception is the invagination of a segment of the bowel into another segment. The part of the bowel that invaginates is the intussusceptum while the part that receives the invaginating segment is the intussuscipiens [1]. Intussusception is a pediatric abdominal surgical emergency and one of the most common causes of intestinal obstruction in infants [2]. The symptoms of intussusception include abdominal pain, vomiting and passage of red currant jelly stool [3]. These classical symptoms are found only in about 20 percent of the patients [4]. Treatment of intussusception in children could be non-operative or operative. Operative treatment of intussusception is indicated in the following conditions: failed hydrostatic reduction, features of peritonitis or marked abdominal distension [6]. Children with intussusception who present early are treated non-operatively with little or no complications. The aim of study was to evaluate our experience in the management of children who presented with uncomplicated intussusception
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
