Idiopathic Small Bowel Intussusception in Adults: Conservative Versus Surgical Management

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Case Reports

Background:

• Intussusception is uncommon in adults and typically associated with a pathological lead point.
• Idiopathic intussusception in adults is rarely documented, leading to uncertainty in optimal management strategies.

Observation:

• An adult male presented with classic intussusception symptoms, confirmed via imaging.
• Despite initial conservative management, clinical improvement was not observed within 24 hours.
• Laparoscopic surgery was successfully employed to resolve the intussusception.

Findings:

• No identifiable lead point or pathological cause was found for the adult intussusception.
• A literature review revealed fewer than 25 documented adult idiopathic intussusception cases since 2010.
• The majority of documented adult idiopathic intussusception cases were managed laparoscopically, with only a minority treated conservatively.

Implications:

• This case underscores the rarity and diagnostic challenges of idiopathic intussusception in adults.
• Laparoscopic intervention appears to be a common and effective treatment modality.
• Further research is warranted to establish definitive guidelines for the surgical management of adult idiopathic intussusception.