Adult intussusception: the Jos experience

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology
• Abdominal Surgery

Background:

• Adult intussusception is a rare condition, often presenting with non-specific symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis.
• Understanding the etiological patterns and management outcomes is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical presentation, causes, management, and outcomes of adult intussusception.
• To compare the findings with established patterns observed in Western literature.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 22 consecutive adult intussusception cases managed between 1990 and 1998.
• Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, surgical interventions, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• The mean age was 49.6 years, with a male predominance (1.4:1 ratio).
• Common causes included polyps (31.8%) and colonic malignancies (18%). Ileocolic intussusception was most frequent.
• Management involved laparotomy, with bowel resection in 72.7% of cases. Morbidity was 22.7% and mortality was 9.1%.

Conclusions:

• Adult intussusception in this tropical highland setting mirrors Western epidemiological patterns.
• Late referrals due to low index of suspicion and misdiagnosis contributed to complications and mortality.