Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026
Tissue Engineering of the Intestine in a Murine Model
Published on: December 1, 2012
[Small bowel intussusception in childhood]
J Siaplaouras1, J D Moritz, L Gortner
1Zentrum für Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin der Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Abteilung Allg. Pädatrie und Neonatologie.
Insights
Small bowel intussusception is less acute than ileocolic intussusception, often found incidentally. Increased ultrasound use may explain more diagnoses of this condition in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Intussusception is a common pediatric abdominal emergency, typically ileocolic.
- Small bowel intussusception is infrequently reported.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare clinical features and outcomes of small bowel intussusception (SBI) versus ileocolic intussusception (ICI).
- To evaluate the role of ultrasound in diagnosing SBI.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric intussusception cases diagnosed by ultrasound (April 1997-January 2001).
- Comparison of clinical records and imaging findings between SBI and ICI patients.
- High-frequency ultrasound with power Doppler was utilized.
Main Results:
- 22 SBI and 29 ICI patients identified. SBI patients were older (median 50 vs. 11 months).
- SBI symptoms included abdominal pain (86%) and vomiting (36%), with 14% found incidentally.
- Hydrostatic reduction was less common for SBI (14% vs. 93% for ICI), with lower operative rates (1 patient vs. 21%).
Conclusions:
- Increased ultrasound use likely contributes to higher SBI detection rates.
- SBI cases were often short-segmented, self-limited, and lacked a lead point.
- SBI presents with less acute symptoms compared to ICI.
Background:
Intussusception is the most common cause of abdominal emergency in early childhood. The majority of cases are ileocolic type of intussusception. Only few reports concerning small bowel intussusception have been reported.
Patients And Method:
We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and imaging findings of all patients with the diagnosis of intussusception (comparing small bowel intussusception with ileocolic type of intussusception), which were documented by ultrasound in the period April 1997 to January 2001. The routine ultrasound scans included an evaluation of the entire abdomen using sector and linear transducers of high frequency (5 - 7.5 MHz) and power doppler ultrasound.
Results:
A total of 22 patients with small bowel intussusception (9 female, 13 male) and 29 patients diagnosed to suffer from ileocolic intussusception (10 female, 19 male) were identified and treated. Children with small bowel intussusception were significant older in comparison to children with ileocolic type of intussusception (median age 50 vs. 11 months). In our series the presenting symptoms of patients with small bowel intussusception consisted of abdominal pain (86 %) and vomiting (36 %). The initial clinical symptoms of patients with ileocolic intussusception were abdominal pain (100 %), vomiting (72 %) and/or rectal fresh blood (35 %). Small bowel intussusception was an incidental finding in 3 asymptomatic patients (14 %). Hydrostatic reduction was attempted in 14 % of children with small bowel intussusception (vs. 93 % of children with ileocolic intussusception), one patient needed operative treatment (vs. 21 %). Outcome in all patients was favorable.
Conclusion:
The high percentage of patients with small bowel intussusception observed may relate to increased use of abdominal ultrasound in children presenting with abdominal pain and improvements in resolution and quality of the images. Small bowel intussusceptions in our series were in the majority of cases short-segmented, self-limited and without a lead point. In comparison to patients with ileocolic intussusception the presenting symptoms of small bowel intussusception are less acute.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Intestinal Obstruction I: Introduction
01:21Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
01:23Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells
01:27Diverticular Disease of the Colon
01:27Histology of the Small Intestine
The intestinal lining features transverse folds called circular folds, each housing fingerlike projections known as intestinal villi. These villi are covered by a layer of simple columnar epithelium, also referred to as...
01:53Anatomy of the Intestines