Intussusception in children 2 years of age or older

CMAJ. 1987 Feb 1;136(3):269-72.

Abstract

The hospital records of 111 children aged 2 to 15 years who were treated for intussusception between mid-1974 and mid-1984 were reviewed. Severe intermittent abdominal pain was the most consistent, and frequently the only, clinical feature. Hydrostatic reduction was almost as successful as in children under 2 years of age, and its success was independent of the duration of symptoms. Most cases were idiopathic, but lead points were common in children 6 years of age or older. There was an unexpectedly high recurrence rate, 20%. In all three children with lymphoma the signs and symptoms were clearly atypical and were suggestive of pre-existing disease. In the absence of suspicious clinical or radiologic findings, laparotomy to rule out lymphoma is not warranted.

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Humans
  • Ileal Diseases / complications
  • Ileal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Intussusception / complications
  • Intussusception / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma / complications
  • Pain / etiology
  • Rectum
  • Recurrence
  • Vomiting / etiology