Intussusception reduction by hydrostatic saline enema under sonographical guidance: clinical experience in 33 cases

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Intussusception is a common cause of bowel obstruction in infants and children.
• Traditional reduction methods like barium enema carry risks and require radiological guidance.
• There is a need for safer and more accessible intussusception reduction techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sonography-guided hydrostatic reduction for intussusception in pediatric patients.
• To compare sonography-guided reduction with traditional radiological methods.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 33 infants and children with 35 episodes of intussusception.
• Hydrostatic reduction using a saline enema performed under real-time sonographical guidance.
• Monitoring the entire reduction procedure using ultrasound.

Main Results:

• Successful reduction was achieved in 32 out of 35 episodes (91.4% success rate).
• No complications were reported in the successfully reduced cases.
• Patients requiring surgery due to failed reduction showed no abnormal intestinal findings.

Conclusions:

• Sonography-guided hydrostatic reduction is a safe and effective method for treating pediatric intussusception.
• This ultrasound-based technique offers high success rates and accessibility.
• It presents a promising alternative to conventional radiological reduction methods.