title: Pneumatic reduction of intussusception in children.
abstract: The use of an air enema in the diagnosis and reduction of intussusception, using a simple home-made device, was prospectively studied in 36 children with the tentative diagnosis of intussusception. Plain abdominal films were inconclusive in 19 patients (53%). Using an air enema, the diagnosis of intussusception was easily reached or excluded in all suspected cases. Twenty-nine patients had intussusception. Their ages ranged from 3 to 20 months (mean: 7 months), and all had ileo-colic involvement. Pneumatic reduction was successful in 23 cases (79%), and reduction was completed within 2-3 minutes in all successfully reduced cases. At operation, three children had a tear of the sero-muscular layer of the transverse colon, but there were no perforations or recurrences of the intussusception in the immediate post-reduction or follow-up period (1-25 months). An air enema is a safe, cheap, clean and reliable procedure for the diagnosis and reduction of intussusception, and can now be considered as the treatment of choice in uncomplicated intussusception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Rawashdeh
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shraideh
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Natour
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004733:Enema; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D007223:Infant; D007443:Intussusception / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D011029:Pneumoradiography / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies