Intussusception--the forgotten postoperative obstruction.
Ten children developed intussusception after laparotomy. The bowel obstruction caused by the intussusception was evident within 8 days of major laparotomy in 8 children and within 39 days in the other two. It developed after the usual postoperative laparotomy ileus, and did not respond to normal non-operative treatment not even to a barium enema. There was one palpable abdominal mass and no rectal bleeding. Only at surgery was the correct diagnosis made. Eight of 10 intussusceptions affected only the small-bowel; most of them were ileoileal, but 2 were ileocolic. Seven of the 10 intussusceptions needed only manual reduction. Postoperative recovery was uneventful.
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D007223:Infant; D007443:Intussusception / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007579:Jejunal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors