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Predictors of intussusception in young children
N Kuppermann1, T O'Dea, L Pinckney
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento 95817, USA. nkuppermann@ucdavis.edu
Insights
Predictors of intussusception in young children include rectal bleeding, a suggestive abdominal radiograph, and male sex. These findings aid in diagnosing intussusception (a bowel obstruction) in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Intussusception is a common cause of bowel obstruction in young children.
- Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and improved outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify independent predictors of intussusception in children under five years old.
- To enhance clinical decision-making for suspected intussusception cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study of 115 children under five with suspected intussusception.
- Evaluation of historical, clinical, and radiographic variables using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.
- Bootstrap resampling used for model validation.
Main Results:
- Intussusception was confirmed in 59% of patients.
- Key independent predictors identified: highly suggestive abdominal radiograph (aOR 18.3), rectal bleeding (aOR 17.3), male sex (aOR 6.2), and history of emesis (aOR 13.4).
- Radiograph, rectal bleeding, and male sex were validated as robust predictors.
Conclusions:
- Rectal bleeding, suggestive abdominal radiographs, and male sex are significant independent predictors of intussusception.
- These clinical and radiographic findings can assist healthcare providers in diagnosing intussusception.
Objective:
To identify predictors of intussusception in young children.
Design:
A retrospective cross-sectional study.
Setting And Patients:
A consecutive sample of children younger than 5 years on whom contrast enemas were performed because of suspected intussusception seen at an urban children's hospital from 1990 to 1995.
Methods:
We evaluated historical, clinical, and radiographic variables. Variables documented in 75% or more of the medical records and associated with intussusception (P< or =.20) in the univariate analysis were evaluated in a multiple logistic regression analysis. Variables retaining significance (P< or =.05) in the multivariate analysis were considered independent predictors of intussusception. We used bootstrap resampling techniques to validate the multivariate model.
Results:
Sixty-eight (59%) of the 115 patients had intussusception. Univariate predictors of intussusception included male sex, age younger than 2 years, history of emesis, rectal bleeding, lethargy, abdominal mass, and a highly suggestive abdominal radiograph. In the multivariate analysis, we identified only 4 independent predictors (adjusted odds ratio; 95% confidence interval): a highly suggestive abdominal radiograph (18.3; 4.0-83.1), rectal bleeding (17.3; 2.9-104.0), male sex (6.2; 1.2-32.3), and a history of emesis (13.4; 1.4-126.0). We identified 3 of these 4 variables (all but emesis) as independent predictors in more than 50% of 1000 bootstrap data samples.
Conclusions:
Rectal bleeding, a highly suggestive abdominal radiograph, and male sex are variables independently associated with intussusception in a cohort of children suspected of having this diagnosis. Knowledge of these variables may assist in clinical decision making regarding diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.