[INTUSSUSCEPTION IN CHILDREN - GUIDELINES FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT]

Ileocolic intussusception is the most common cause of acute intestinal obstruction in infancy. Without rapid diagnosis and intervention, as well as collaboration among physicians from multiple disciplines, the patient's condition can deteriorate significantly, leading to ischemia and bowel necrosis. This position paper is the work of a committee of the Israel Pediatric Association, the Israel Pediatric Surgery Association, the Israel Radiological Association (Pediatric Imaging Section), and the Israel Association of Emergency Medicine (Pediatric Emergency Medicine Section) with the aim of establishing guidelines and thereby improving the treatment of children. The paper discusses the principles of clinical evaluation, sonographic diagnosis, non-surgical treatment by pneumatic (air enema) or hydrostatic (fluid enema) reduction, and the possible complications of this treatment. Other topics discussed in this paper include sedation to reduce the pain and distress associated with the reduction procedure, post-procedure monitoring, and surgical treatment principles in cases where pneumatic or hydrostatic reduction fails.