Reduction of intussusception by ultrasound-guided saline enema

There were 59 cases with 62 episodes of sonogram-proven intussusception between July 1990 and November 1995 at the Department of Pediatrics of the Pingtung Christian Hospital. Except 2 episodes transferred and 4 episodes which reduced spontaneously, ultrasound-guided saline enema was performed in 56 episodes. The whole procedure was monitored and adequately controlled by real-time sonography. Fifty-one of 56 episodes of intussusception were successfully reduced with no complication. The overall success rate was 91.1%. Among the five failed cases, reduction with barium enema had been tried in four at another hospital; one had succeeded but three failed. Because of absence of radiation exposure, easy observation of the patient's condition during the procedure, as well as high success rate, ultrasound-guided saline enema may be one of the most promising methods useable in nonoperative treatment of intussusception.