Intussusception: Jordan University Hospital experience

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Pediatrics

Background:

• Intussusception is a significant cause of intestinal obstruction in children.
• Understanding the epidemiology and clinical presentation is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
• This study examines a large cohort over an extended period to identify trends and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics and management outcomes of pediatric intussusception.
• To determine the most common type and presenting symptoms of intussusception in the studied population.
• To evaluate the success rates of different treatment modalities, including surgical and non-surgical interventions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for children diagnosed with intussusception.
• Data collected over a 24-year period (July 1979 - July 2003) at Jordan University Hospital.
• Analysis of patient demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• 109 children (74 male, 35 female) presented with intussusception, mean age 16.3 months.
• Ileocolic intussusception (idiopathic) was the most frequent type (96 cases, 89.7%).
• Common symptoms included vomiting (92%), abdominal pain (80%), rectal bleeding (78%). Surgical intervention was needed in 86% of cases.

Conclusions:

• Idiopathic ileocolic intussusception is the predominant form in children, characterized by classical symptoms like vomiting.
• A significant proportion of cases (81%) required surgical intervention, with manual reduction successful in 56% of laparotomies.
• Associated conditions like malrotation were noted in 5 patients, necessitating procedures like Ladd's.