Intussusception: Difference between revisions

(added lead points)
(added bedside US and ileoileal advantage of US)
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*[[Ultrasound: Abdomen|Ultrasound]]
*[[Ultrasound: Abdomen|Ultrasound]]
**Sensitivity and specificity approach 100%, but operator dependent
**Sensitivity and specificity approach 100%, but operator dependent
***Some emergency departments have successfully implemented bedside point-of-care ultrasound
**Classically see bulls eye lesion
**Classically see bulls eye lesion
**Ultrasound can diagnose ileo-ileal intussusception, whereas contrast enema cannot
**Negative ultrasound = may still be intermittent intussusception
**Negative ultrasound = may still be intermittent intussusception
*Air contrast enema
*Air contrast enema

Revision as of 09:20, 21 August 2016

Background

  • Most common cause of intestinal obstruction in 3mo-6yr
    • Usually occurs in 3-36 months
  • Due to telescoping of one part of intestine into another
    • Mesentery involvement > ischemia, bloody/mucous stool
  • Peds
    • Typically no pathological lesions
      • If > 6 years old, more likely to have a lead point
        • Lead points: Meckel diverticulum, duplication cyst, polyp, tumor, hematoma, vascular malformation, parasite (eg Ascaris), Henoch-Schonlein purpura
    • Slight male predominance - 3:2
  • Adults
    • Rare
    • 80% involve small bowel
    • 70% risk of malignancy

Clinical Features

  • Classic Triad:
    • Sudden colicky pain
    • Palpable sausage shaped mass on right
    • Currant jelly stool (only 50% of cases; late manifestation of the disease)
  • Intermittent episodes of pain
    • Child pulls up knees
    • May be asymptomatic between episodes
      • May be completely benign, smiling, playful
    • Suspect if recurrent brief pain episodes, especially if wake child from sleep
    • Later stages may be associated with lethargy
  • May have vomiting (non-bilious, late stages bilious)
  • May present as lethargy alone, without any of the classic triad

Adults

  • Typically have partial/SBO symptoms
  • Vomiting, rectal bleeding, constipation
  • Distended
  • Late Stage: sepsis

Differential Diagnosis

Pediatric Abdominal Pain

0–3 Months Old

3 mo–3 y old

3 y old–adolescence

Evaluation

  • Classic Triad not always present
    • Maintain high index of suspicion
  • All labs nonspecific
  • Guaiac-positive stool (~50%)

Imaging

  • Ultrasound
    • Sensitivity and specificity approach 100%, but operator dependent
      • Some emergency departments have successfully implemented bedside point-of-care ultrasound
    • Classically see bulls eye lesion
    • Ultrasound can diagnose ileo-ileal intussusception, whereas contrast enema cannot
    • Negative ultrasound = may still be intermittent intussusception
  • Air contrast enema
    • Diagnostic and frequently curative
    • Prior to procedure, IV hydration, NG tube decompression, surgery consult
  • Hydrostatic (saline or water-soluble contrast) enema also may be used
  • CT for adults (air contrast or barium enemas not sufficient)[1]
    • Up to 20% of cases do not have lead point

Management

  • Stable children with a high clinical suspicion and/or radiographic evidence of intussusception and no evidence of bowel perforation should be treated with nonoperative reduction
    • NPO
    • Consider NG tube as indicated
    • Air-contrast enema (reduces 80%)
    • Hydrostatic (saline or water-soluble contrast) may also be used
  • Surgery consult
    • Surgery is indicated when nonoperative reduction is incomplete, or patient is toxic, or has perforation or peritonitis.
    • In stable, asymptomatic patient with ileo-ileal intussusception, short length of intussusception <2.3 cm, expectant management is reasonable as many of these cases will resolve spontaneously
    • In all adults with intussusception due to high incidence of malignancy

Disposition

  • Admit
  • Recurrence occurs in ~10% of cases reduced by enema
    • initial management same

See Also

References

  1. Marinis A et al. Intussusception of the bowel in adults: A review. World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Jan 28; 15(4): 407–411.