The changing pattern of intussusception in northern Nigeria: an analysis of 85 consecutive cases

In many regions of Africa intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction next to strangulated hernia. More recent reports seem to indicate a change in the clinical pattern of the disease. This retrospective analysis covering a period of ten years is of 85 patients aged between 11 weeks and 50 years. There were 65 males and 20 females; 69 were children between 1 month and 15 years. The anatomical pattern of the disease has changed from being of the caecocolic type to the ileocolic variety while the pathology of the disease has remained largely unidentified. 32 patients had the ileocolic variety. 20 were ileocaecal, 14 colo-colic, 8 caecocolic, 8 ileo ileal, 2 jejuno jejunal, and 1 jejuno ileal. There were 2 ileal and 4 colonic neoplasms. There was a high rate of bowel resection (54/85) and 8 deaths.