Laparoscopic Surgery for Adult Intussusception: Case Series

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology
• Abdominal Imaging

Background:

• Intussusception in adults is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction, typically managed with laparotomy.
• This study evaluates laparoscopic surgery for adult intussusception, a condition accounting for 1% of all intestinal obstructions.

Observation:

• Six adult patients with intussusception causing intestinal obstruction underwent laparoscopic surgery between January 2017 and July 2019.
• Symptoms included acute or subacute presentations, with diagnosis confirmed by computed tomography (CT).
• Preoperative diagnosis of etiology was challenging, with malignancy identified in 33.3% of cases postoperatively.

Findings:

• Laparoscopic procedures included segmental small bowel resection, right hemicolectomy, left hemicolectomy, and anterior resection.
• No intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported in any of the six patients.
• Histopathological examination confirmed malignancy in two patients (33.3%).

Implications:

• Computed tomography (CT) is valuable for diagnosing adult intussusception but often fails to identify the underlying cause.
• Laparoscopic surgery presents a safe and effective alternative to open surgery for both diagnosis and treatment of adult intussusception.
• This minimally invasive approach may improve patient outcomes in managing this rare condition.