Enema-reduced intussusception management: is hospitalization necessary?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Clinical Pediatrics
• Medical Interventions

Background:

• Intussusception is a common cause of bowel obstruction in infants and children.
• Enema reduction is a standard treatment for intussusception, but hospitalization criteria vary.
• Understanding the characteristics of hospitalized children with enema-reduced intussusception is crucial for optimizing care pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the demographic and clinical profiles of children hospitalized after enema-reduced intussusception.
• To evaluate the necessity of hospitalization for these pediatric patients.
• To identify factors influencing hospitalization decisions in cases of enema-reduced intussusception.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional study involving patients aged 0-17 years.
• Analysis of hospitalized patients with enema-reduced intussusception at a children's hospital over a 12-year period.
• Definition of hospitalization necessity based on dehydration, persistent symptoms, need for repeat radiography, or serious complications.

Main Results:

• 45 patients (46 episodes) were hospitalized; 71% were male, with a median age of 10 months.
• 28% of episodes met criteria for potential hospitalization necessity (dehydration, abnormal labs).
• Minimal interventions were required during hospitalization; no serious complications like bowel perforation or sepsis were observed.

Conclusions:

• Hospitalized children with enema-reduced intussusception typically require limited interventions and have a low incidence of severe complications.
• The study findings support the consideration of outpatient management as a safe and viable alternative for select pediatric patients.
• Further research could refine criteria for outpatient management of enema-reduced intussusception.