Intussusceptionis a condition in which part of the intestine moves inside itself in a telescoping effect.
This causes abdominal pain and other symptoms.
It is more common in babies and children than others but can also occur in adults.
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Children may also need surgery, but this is more common in adults.
Left untreated, intussusception can be life-threatening.
This article will explore intussusception symptoms, diagnosis, emergency treatment, and outlook in children and adults.
The most common symptom is abdominal pain.
It can take time to rule out various other disorders and get the correct diagnosis.
Intussusception in Children
The signs and symptoms of intussusception are variable in babies and kids.
This can make it difficult for healthcare providers to know which patients should be evaluated for intussusception.
The age of the child also makes a difference (such as infants vs. teens).
Of adults that have intussusception, many are first misdiagnosed with another condition or have a delayed diagnosis.
About half are not diagnosed until they have surgery and the condition is found.
One of the potential complications is a lack of blood getting to the intestines.
Without blood flow, the intestinal tissue may start to die.
A section of the intestine that has died might tear, creating a hole (perforation).
This can take different forms and could use air or saline (salt water).
The most common treatment for intussusception in adults is surgery.
For people who are medically stable, time can be taken to run some tests and consider options.
An enema may or may not be used in adults, either alone or before surgery.
If surgery is not done, an underlying problem (which could be life-threatening) might not be addressed.
Whether surgery should be done using minimally invasive techniques (laparoscopic) is still debated.
Some research has shown that laparoscopic surgery can be effective and lead to shorter recovery times.
What Causes Intussusception Symptoms?
There are also some conditions that increase the risk of intussusception.
Causes of Intussusception in Children
Its not always known what causes intussusception in children.
However, sometimes a cause is never found, which is called idiopathic intussusception.
The most common complication was an infection at the surgery site.
It was also shown that about 5% died after surgery.
The most important thing related to outcomes is what may have caused the intussusception in the first place.
Summary
Intussusception is an emergency that can be life-threatening.
Abdominal pain is a common symptom in both adults and children.
Getting a diagnosis can take time because the signs and symptoms could also be sparked by many other conditions.
Severe abdominal pain and rectal bleeding are reasons to seek care in an emergency department.
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