Changes in the presentation of intussusception.
Intussusception is most often diagnosed in well-nourished 7- to 10-month-old infants, but may be overlooked in older children. From 1985 to 1991, we treated 118 boys and 62 girls ranging in age from 2 months to 15 years (average, 22.6 months). Thirty-seven percent were older than 2 years, significantly more than in earlier experience at this institution. Overall, children with intussusception had a less than average weight (P < .05). The majority of intussusceptions in all age groups were idiopathic. Seventy-three percent of the patients were treated successfully by barium enema. The presence of air-fluid levels on the plain radiograph decreased the success rate of barium enema reduction from 81% to 49%. Barium enema reduction should nevertheless be attempted regardless of the age of the patient or the duration of symptoms, and routine surgical exploration is never recommended.
Luks
F I
FI
Department of Surgery, Hôpital Sainte-Justine, University of Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Yazbeck
S
S
Perreault
G
G
Desjardins
J G
JG
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007443:Intussusception / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D014463:Ultrasonography
D001466:Barium Sulfate