Idiopathic Small Bowel Intussusception in Adults: Conservative Versus Surgical Management

Intussusception is a rare diagnosis in adults and generally has a pathological cause. In this case report, we highlight an adult, male patient who presented with typical signs and symptoms of intussusception, and a diagnosis was subsequently confirmed with imaging. After 24 hours of no clinical improvement, the intussusception was resolved through a laparoscopic approach. No lead point or other pathological cause was identified that may have contributed to the development of intussusception. The idiopathic presentation of intussusception in adults is scarcely represented in the scientific literature, making its best management practices vague and leaving room for studies regarding best surgical management. We conducted a brief literature review of adult idiopathic intussusception cases and found fewer than 25 cases documented since 2010. Our analysis revealed that the majority of cases were resolved through a laparoscopic method and only about a quarter were conservatively managed with supportive measures. More research is needed in this subject matter to more accurately determine the need for surgical management in cases of adult idiopathic intussusception.