Factors influencing management and comparison of outcomes in paediatric intussusceptions

Clinical presentation and management outcome of pediatric intussusception at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: a retrospective cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the pattern of clinical presentations and factors associated with the management outcome of pediatric intussusception among children treated at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia.

METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional study included the medical records of 103 children treated for intussusception from 2018 to 2020. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

RESULTS

In total, 84 (81.6%) patients were released with a favorable outcome. Ileocolic intussusception was a positive predictor, with a nine-fold higher likelihood of a favorable outcome than other types of intussusception [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 9.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.39-21.2]. Additionally, a favorable outcome was three times more likely in patients who did than did not undergo manual reduction (AOR, 3.08; 95% CI, 3.05-5.48). Patients aged <1 year were 96% less likely to have a positive outcome than those aged >4 years (AOR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.03-0.57).

CONCLUSION

Most patients were discharged with favorable outcomes. Having ileocolic intussusception and undergoing manual reduction were associated with significantly more favorable outcomes of pediatric intussusception. Therefore, nonsurgical management such as hydrostatic enema and pneumatic reduction is recommended to reduce hospital discharge of patients with unfavorable outcomes.

Clinical profile and treatment outcome of acute intussusception among children in eastern Ethiopia: A seven years retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Acute intussusception is the main cause of abdominal surgical emergencies worldwide in young children, with an incidence of approximately 1 to 4 per 2,000 children. An accurate estimate of the treatment outcomes of acute intussusception in children is unknown in low-and middle-income countries like Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to determine the clinical profile, treatment outcomes of acute intussusception and its associated factors among children admitted to Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital in eastern Ethiopia.

METHODS

An institutional-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from November 01 to 30, 2021, among children admitted and managed for acute intussusception. All medical records of children admitted and managed for acute intussusception at Hiwot Fana Specialized University hospital between January 2014 and December 2020 were included. Data were collected using pretested structured checklists through a review of medical records, entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0. Chi-square (χ ²) tests were applied to determine the associated factors with treatment outcome. The statistical significance was considered at a p-value < 0.05.

RESULTS

In this chart review of children, 13.3% (95% CL: 11.8-14.8) died. The median age of the study participant was 13 months. The majority, 72% were male and 76% were less than 24 months old. Regarding the clinical profile; abdominal pain (94.7%), vomiting (93.3%), bloody diarrhea (70.7%), and abdominal distention (76.0%) were the most common clinical presentations. Age less than 24 months [X ²= 8.13 (df = 1); p = 0.004], preoperative vital signs [X ²= 19.21 (df = 2); p = 0.000], intraoperative findings [X ²= 18.89 (df = 1); p = 0.000], and postoperative complications [X ²= 14.60 (df = 1); p = 0.000] were significantly associated with treatment outcome of acute intussusception.

CONCLUSION

In this chart review, the overall mortality rate in children was relatively high. One in seven children died from acute intussusception. Age less than 24 months, preoperative vital signs, intraoperative findings, and postoperative complications were significantly associated with acute intussusception treatment outcomes. Surgical management was the only treatment performed in all cases. Delayed presentation of patients and lack of other treatment modalities such as non-surgical interventions are serious concerns in this facility. The initiation of non-surgical reduction may reduce the need for surgical intervention-related complications, and child mortality.

Evidence-Based Diagnostic Test Accuracy of History, Physical Examination, and Imaging for Intussusception: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Intussusception is the most common cause of pediatric small bowel obstruction. Timely and accurate diagnosis may reduce the risk of bowel ischemia. We quantified the diagnostic test accuracy of history, physical examination, abdominal radiographs, and point-of-care ultrasound.

METHOD

We conducted a systematic review for diagnostic test accuracy of history, physical examination, and imaging concerning for intussusception. Our literature search was completed in June 2019. Databases included Medline via Ovid, Embase, Scopus, and Wiley Cochrane Library. We conducted a second review of the literature up to June 2019 for any additional studies. Inclusion criteria were younger than 18 years and presenting to the emergency department for abdominal complaints, consistent with intussusception. We performed data analysis using mada, version 0.5.8. We conducted univariate and bivariate analysis (random effects model) with DerSimonian-Laird and Reitsma model, respectively. QUADAS-2 was used for bias assessment.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 2639 articles, of which 13 primary studies met our inclusion criteria. Abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody stools had positive likelihood ratios LR(+) between 1 and 2, whereas the negative likelihood ratio, LR(-), ranged between 0.4 and 0.8. Abnormal abdominal radiograph had LR(+) of 2.5 and LR(-) of 0.20, whereas its diagnostic odds ratio was 13. Lastly, point-of-care ultrasound had LR(+) of 19.7 and LR(-) of 0.10. The diagnostic odds ratio was 213.

CONCLUSIONS

History and physical examination had low diagnostic test accuracy. Abdominal radiographs had low diagnostic test accuracy, despite moderate discriminatory characteristics. Point-of-care ultrasound had the highest diagnostic test accuracy to rule in or rule out intussusception.

Predictors of failed enema reduction in children with intussusception: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To identify predictors of failed enema reduction in children with intussusception.

METHODS

PubMed and EMBASE were searched for all studies published over a 20-year time frame, prior to March 25, 2020. Original articles that reported predictors of failed enema reduction were included. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for successful enema reduction according to various features was calculated. The combined estimates were meta-analytically pooled by random-effects modeling. The risk of bias was assessed using the National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tool. This review was registered to the PROSPERO (CRD42020190178).

RESULTS

A total of 38 studies, comprising 40,133 cases, were included. The shorter duration of symptoms (< 24 h; combined OR, 3.812; 95% CI, 2.150-6.759) and abdominal pain (combined OR, 2.098; 95% CI, 1.405-3.133) were associated with the success (all p < 0.001). Age < 1 year (combined OR, 0.385; 95% CI, 0.166-0.893; p = 0.026), fever (combined OR, 0.519; 95% CI, 0.371-0.725; p < 0.001), rectal bleeding (combined OR, 0.252; 95% CI, 0.165-0.387; p < 0.001), and vomiting (combined OR, 0.497; 95% CI, 0.372-0.664; p < 0.001) were associated with the failed reduction. The ascites (combined OR, 0.127; 95% CI, 0.044-0.368; p = 0.001), left-sided intussusception (combined OR, 0.121; 95% CI, 0.058-0.252; p < 0.001), and trapped fluid (combined OR, 0.179; 95% CI, 0.061-0.525; p = 0.017) on US were associated with the failed reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful predictors for intussusception reduction have been summarized. This evidence can help identify patients who are more likely to fail non-operative reduction and could be potential surgical candidates.

KEY POINTS

• A shorter duration of symptoms and presence of abdominal pain were associated with increased probability of success. • Age (less than 1 year), presence of fever, rectal bleeding, vomiting, and presence of ascites, left-sided intussusception, or trapped fluid on ultrasonography were associated with decreased probability of success. • This study suggests that various clinical and ultrasonography predictors would help identify patients who are more likely to fail nonoperative reduction and identify potential preoperative candidates.

Practical Imaging Strategies for Intussusception in Children

OBJECTIVE. Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in young children. Radiology has a key role in its diagnosis and treatment. This systematic review summarizes the currently available evidence for best practices in radiologic management of pediatric intussusception. CONCLUSION. High diagnostic accuracy and lack of ionizing radiation make ultrasound (US) the preferred imaging modality for diagnosing intussusception. For intussusception reduction, fluoroscopy-guided pneumatic enema and US-guided hydrostatic enema are equally dependable and safe techniques. The areas that warrant further research in this field include the efficacy and safety of the US-guided pneumatic enema, potential benefits of sedation and general anesthesia for the reduction procedure, and the optimal management of intussusceptions potentially involving pathologic lead points.

Clinical predictors and outcome of bowel resection in paediatric intussusception

Introduction

Surgery remains the mainstay in treating intussusception in developing countries, with a correspondingly high bowel resection rate despite a shift to non-operative reduction in high-income countries.

Objective

To assess factors associated with bowel resection and the outcomes of resection in childhood intussusception.

Methods

A review of children with intussusception between January 2006 and December 2015 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The patients were categorized based on the need for bowel resection and analysis done using the SPSS version 23.

Results

121 children were managed for intussusception during this period. 53 (43.8%) had bowel resection, 61 (50.4%) did not require resection and 7 (5.8%) were unknown. 40 (75.5%) of the resections were right hemi-colectomy. The presence of fever, abdominal pain, distension, rectal mass, age < 12 months, heart rate > 145/min and duration of symptoms > 2 days were associated with the need for bowel resection (p < 0.05). However, only age and abdominal pain independently predicted need for resection. Bowel resection was more associated with development of post-operative complications and prolonged hospital stay (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Infants presenting with abdominal pain and abdominal distension after two days of onset of symptoms were more likely to require bowel resection. Resection in intussusception significantly increased post-operative complications and length of hospital stay.

Comparison Between Small and Large Bowel Intussusception in Children: The Experience of a Large Tertiary Care Pediatric Hospital

BACKGROUND

Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in young children, and delayed diagnosis may lead to serious sequelae. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of ileoileal intussusception and to document and compare clinical outcomes with ileocolic intussusception.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of children with an abdominal ultrasound that diagnosed intussusception. Clinical data and diagnostic studies were retrieved, to compare ileoileal with ileocolic intussusception.

RESULTS

A total of 488 patients were evaluated with an abdominal ultrasound on suspicion of intussusception; 54 (11%) had ileoileal intussusception and 30 (6%) ileocolic intussusception. The significant features distinguishing the 2 conditions were fever, more common in patients with ileoileal intussusception, and an abdominal mass, which was papable more commonly in ileocolic intussusception. None of the ileoileal intussusception patients required surgical intervention, and all were discharged without complication.

CONCLUSIONS

With recent advances in abdominal ultrasound, the diagnosis of ileoileal intussusception has become easier than before. Patients presenting with small bowel intussusception may not need any immediate intervention. The presence of fever supports the diagnosis of ileoileal intussusception.

Management of Intussusception in the Era of Ultrasound-Guided Hydrostatic Reduction: A 3-Year Experience from a Tertiary Care Center

Introduction:

Ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction (HSR) is currently the initial management tool in the treatment of intussusception. HSR is, however, confronted with failures besides there are still a number of patients who primarily undergo surgical intervention for the management of intussusception. We undertook this study to assess the efficacy of HSR and also to look for factors demanding the surgical exploration in patients with intussusception.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 215 patients with intussusception from June 2014 to June 2017 were prospectively studied. HSR was carried out in 203 patients, which was successful in 187 and unsuccessful in 16. These two groups were compared using the Student's t-test. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Twelve patients undergoing surgery primarily were also assessed for the factors affecting the decision-making.

Results:

HSR was successful in 187 and unsuccessful in 16. The failed group was more likely to have symptoms over 24 h, appearance of crescent, and ≥10-cm length on ultrasonography (USG). Two of these patients had ischemic bowel, two had ileoileal intussusception, and eight had pathological lead points, whereas no obvious cause could be identified in the rest of the four patients. Among the 12 patients who were primarily operated, four patients had peritonitis and other four patients were neonates. Laparoscopic reduction was done in four patients.

Conclusion:

HSR is a safe and effective treatment modality for intussusception. However, it is met with higher failure rates in patients with risk factors such as delayed presentation, appearance of crescent on USG, and length >10 cm. The role of HSR is also dubious in situations such as neonatal intussusception, small-bowel intussusception, and multiple intussusceptions and also in preventing the future recurrence. Such patients ought to be managed by laparotomy or where feasible by laparoscopy. Furthermore, before embarking on HSR, peritonitis and bowel ischemia should be ruled out clinically and radiologically. In the suspicious cases of bowel ischemia, USG Doppler may be helpful.

Fever as a Presenting Symptom in Children Evaluated for Ileocolic Intussusception: The Experience of a Large Tertiary Care Pediatric Hospital

BACKGROUND

Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in young children, and delayed diagnosis may lead to bowel perforation. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of fever in patients with ileocolic intussusception and to determine its utility as a predictive symptom.

METHODS

This was a 3-year retrospective study, at a tertiary care center, of children aged 1 month to 6 years, presenting with possible intussusception. Charts were reviewed for clinical signs and symptoms at presentation, and all diagnostic studies were retrieved. A pediatric radiologist reviewed all ultrasounds.

RESULTS

A total of 488 ultrasounds were performed on suspicion of intussusception. In 30 patients with confirmed ileocolic intussusception, mean age was 27 months and all were successfully reduced by air enema. Of 118 patients with fever, 2 had confirmed intussusception, 1 with pneumonia and 1 with acute otitis media, compared with 116 febrile patients with negative ultrasounds (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Traditional teaching is that intussusception presents as intermittent colicky abdominal pain, red currant jelly stool, vomiting, and a palpable abdominal mass, but it is important to remember that this classic triad is a very late finding and this condition should be recognized before the development of these findings. The concurrence of fever can help to rule out the possibility of intussusception and prompt the health care professional to search diligently for alternative infectious etiologies but cannot eliminate the possibility, especially when other findings suggestive of intussusception are present.

Childhood intussusception: Impact of delay in presentation in a developing country

BACKGROUND

The classical cases of intussusception are readily diagnosed clinically, and despite recent improvements in radiological techniques, the diagnosis of intussusception and success in its nonoperative reduction has been suboptimal, thus making operative management a veritable backup. This study examined the impact of delays in presentation on the rate of bowel resection, length of hospital stay, and appraised the outcome of operative treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of consecutive children admitted and treated surgically for intussusception between January 2002 and December 2011 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

RESULTS

The mean age at presentation was 13.4 months with a male: female ratio of 1.8:1. Fourteen patients (25.5%) presented within the first 24 h of onset of symptoms with majority (36.4%) presenting between 2 and 3 days of onset of symptoms. The primary surgical intervention was performed on 47 patients (85.5%), and the secondary operative intervention was performed on eight patients (14.5%) who had failed initial nonoperative management of intussusception. Manual reduction of intussusception was performed on 27 patients (49.1%), 26 patients had resection of gangrenous bowel with end-to-end anastomosis while two patients (3.6%) had spontaneous reduction of intussusception which was discovered at laparotomy. The mean duration of hospital stay was 12.1 days (range 3-60 days). The overall mortality was 5.5% (three patients), and three patients (5.5%) had recurrence of intussusception.

CONCLUSION

Although mortality is reducing, a high rate of bowel resection is a consequence of delayed presentation and effort should be made to make an early diagnosis of intussusception and make prompt referral to improve outcome.

Abdominal radiography is not necessary in children with intussusception

BACKGROUND

Children with intussusception require rapid and accurate diagnosis to enable timely intervention for satisfactory outcome. Ultrasonography is the recommended standard diagnostic modality; however, abdominal radiography (AR) is still used as an initial investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the benefit of AR in intussusception by determining diagnostic accuracy and analysing correlation of AR findings with outcome.

METHODS

Index cases of intussusception presenting over 15 years (1998-2013) were analysed. Those who had AR performed were allocated into groups with positive or normal findings. Outcome of pneumatic reduction of intussusception (PRI) between these groups was compared.

RESULTS

Six hundred and forty-four cases of intussusception treated with PRI were identified, 412 (64 %) had AR performed and 232 (36 %) did not. 303 (74 %) radiographs had positive findings and 109 (26 %) were normal. The success rate of PRI did not differ between AR positive (82 %) and AR normal (84 %). Occult pneumoperitoneum was not detected in any patient by AR in our cohort.

CONCLUSION

AR is not recommended for the diagnosis of intussusception in children, for the prediction of the outcome of PRI or for the detection of occult pneumoperitoneum. AR should always be performed when clinical peritonism is present but is not otherwise necessary in children with suspected or confirmed intussusception.

Childhood intussusception: A prospective study of management trend in a developing country

BACKGROUND

The management of intussusception has evolved universally from the use of hydrostatic reduction through operative reduction to the use of pneumatic reduction for the acute and uncomplicated cases and surgical reduction for the complicated cases. However, the process of evolution has been very slow in the developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, due to lack of requisite facilities and expertise to manage these patients nonoperatively. This study examined the trends in the management of childhood intussusception in a developing country, compared operative and nonoperative modalities of treatment, and assessed the impact of delayed presentation on the outcome of management.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective study of the management of children with intussusception at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

RESULTS

Fifty-five consecutive cases of intussusception that presented to the Children Emergency Unit of the University College Hospital between January 2005 and December 2011 were prospectively studied. Details of sex, age of the patients, clinical presentation, duration of symptoms, mode of treatment, and incidence of recurrence were recorded and analyzed. The median age was 7 months. Moreover, the duration of symptoms varied from 1 to 21 days with a mean of 4 days. Twenty-two patients (40%) had attempted hydrostatic reduction; this was successful in 14 patients (63.6%), whereas 8 patients (36.4%) had failed reduction. In all, 41 patients (74.6%) had operative management of intussusceptions; primary operative intervention was carried out in 33 patients (60%) and secondary surgical management in 8 patients (14.5%) with failed hydrostatic reduction. At surgery, manual reduction of intussusception was carried out on 17 patients (30.9%) and resection of devitalized bowel with end to end anastomosis was carried out on the remaining 24 patients (43.6%). The incidence of surgical intervention for intussusception was 74.6%, mortality was 3.6%, and recurrence rate was 3.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonoperative management of intussusception should be adopted in carefully selected cases of intussusception in this subregion as it will help to reduce the financial burden on the parents while surgical management should be reserved for the complicated cases.

Surgical approach to intussusception in older children: influence of lead points

BACKGROUND

The likelihood of a lead point as the cause of ileocolic intussusception increases as children get older. This study looks at whether a different management strategy should be employed in older patients.

METHODS

7 year multi-institutional retrospective study of intussusception in patients aged <12 years.

RESULTS

Ileocolic intussusception with complete data was found in 153 patients: 109 0-2 years, 34 3-5 years, and 10 6-12 years, respectively. Bloody stools occurred in 42/143 of 0-5 years and 0/10 of 6-12 years, p<0.001. Combined hydrostatic and/or surgical reduction was successful in 113/143 0-5 year olds vs 5/10 6-12 year olds, p<0.001. Enemas were safe but reduced only 1 patient over age 5. Resections were required in 29 patients (15 idiopathic, 14 lead points). Lead points were found in 4/109 children under 3 years, in 5/34 aged 3-5 years and 5/10 aged 6-12 years (p=0.04 vs 3-5 years and p <0.001 vs 0-5 years). Lead points consisted of 7 Meckel's diverticula and 7 others.

CONCLUSION

Children older than 5 years are much more likely to have a pathologic lead point and early surgical intervention should be considered. In this study, enema reduction was safe but minimally beneficial in this age group.

Risk factors for pediatric intussusception complicated by loss of intestine viability in China from June 2009 to May 2014: a retrospective study

PURPOSE

Intussusception is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal emergencies in infants and preschool children. Loss of intestine viability is the most serious complication of intussusception. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for loss of intestine viability in pediatric intussusception cases among children.

METHODS

Data were collected for operative pediatric intussusception cases (N = 316) from medical records of 5,537 hospitalized children due to intussusception between June 2009 and May 2014 in a pediatric surgery department of an academic teaching hospital in China. Seventy-six patients (24.1 %) of the operated intussusception cases had complication of loss intestine viability.

RESULTS

Pediatric intussusception cases with loss of intestine viability and without loss of intestine viability were similar in terms of their age, malformation and season of admission. The median time of the duration from onset of symptoms to operative treatment was 23 h (range 3-90 h). The loss of intestine viability group of the intussusception cases was significantly associated with longer length of history (P = 0.000). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for length of history showed that the optimal ratio of sensitivity (0.70) and specificity (0.73) was calculated for the length of history longer than 27.5 h regarding loss of intestine viability of intussusception. In addition, the risk of loss of intestine viability was higher for female (31 %) than for male (20.8 %) (P = 0.049). The loss of intestine viability rate was also significantly higher in ileo-ileal intussusception cases than that of the other types (P = 0.033). However, there is no difference among the other groups.

CONCLUSION

The result of our risk factor analysis for loss of intestine viability in pediatric intussusception cases may help develop a predictability index to prevent the complication to happen. Further prospective studies are required to confirm our findings.

Reduction of intussusception: defining a better index of successful non-operative treatment

The reported non-operative reduction rate for intussusception is usually the proportion of attempted non-operative (radiological) reductions that succeed, which we term the "selective reduction rate." This value shows wide variation that may result from selection bias that is difficult to quantify because data regarding primary operative treatment are frequently lacking. The proportion of patients with late clinical presentation or pathological lead points can also distort the apparent efficacy of non-operative treatment. We found no definitions of outcome measures in the literature or practice guidelines to inform analysis. Based on analysis of our own audit data we derived a "composite reduction rate" from first principles that can account for variations in radiological and surgical treatment thresholds that might bias other measures of successful non-operative treatment. This index is the proportion of intussusceptions not requiring resection that are successfully reduced non-operatively. We propose that the composite reduction rate be used as a key component of standardised multidisciplinary outcome reporting for intussusception rather than the selective reduction rate. The reduced bias and confounding would allow fairer comparisons and lead to better outcome standards.

Needle decompression to avoid tension pneumoperitoneum and hemodynamic compromise after pneumatic reduction of pediatric intussusception

BACKGROUND

The contemporary management of children with ileocolic intussusception often includes pneumatic reduction. While failure of the procedure or recurrence after reduction can result in the need for surgical treatment, more serious adverse sequelae can occur including perforation and, rarely, tension pneumoperitoneum. During the last year, four cases of perforation during attempted pneumatic reductions complicated by tense pneumoperitoneum have occurred in our center.

OBJECTIVE

We have elected to report our patient experience, describe methods of management and review available literature on this uncommon but serious complication.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using ICD-9 diagnosis codes, we reviewed the records of children with intussusception during 2011. Demographic and therapeutic clinical data were collected and summarized.

RESULTS

During the study period, 101 children with intussusception were treated at our institution, with 19% (19/101) of them requiring surgical intervention. Four children (4%) experienced a tense pneumoperitoneum during air enema reduction, prompting urgent needle decompression in the fluoroscopy suite. These children required bowel resection during subsequent laparotomy. No deaths occurred.

CONCLUSION

Pneumoperitoneum is a real and life-threatening complication of pneumatic enemas. It requires immediate intervention and definitive surgical management. Caution should be exercised by practitioners performing this procedure at institutions where pediatric radiology experience is limited and immediate pediatric surgical support is not available.

Risk factors for surgery in pediatric intussusception in the era of pneumatic reduction

INTRODUCTION

Surgical treatment is still necessary for intussusception management in a subgroup of patients, despite advances in enema reduction techniques. Early identification of these patients should improve outcomes.

METHODS

The medical records of patients treated for intussusception at our institution from 2006 to 2011 were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses, including stepwise logistic regression, were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 379 patients were treated for intussusception, and 101 (26%) patients required operative management, with 34 undergoing intestinal resection. The post-operative complication rate was 8%. On multivariate analysis, failure of initial reduction (OR 9.9,p=0.001 95% CI, 4.6-21.2), a lead point (OR 18.5,p=0.001 95% CI, 6.6-51.8) or free/interloop fluid (OR 3.3,p=0.001 95% CI, 1.6-6.7) or bowel wall thickening on ultrasound (OR 3.3,p=0.001 95% CI, 1.1-10.1), age <1 year at reduction (OR 2.7,p=0.004, 95% CI, 1.4-5.9), and abdominal symptoms>2 days (OR 2.9,p=0.003, 95% CI, 1.4-5.9) were significantly associated with a requirement for surgery. Similarly, a lead point (OR 14.5, p=0.005 95% CI, 2.3-90.9) or free/interloop fluid on ultrasound (OR 19.8, p=0.001 95% CI, 3.4-117) and fever (OR 7.2, p=0.023 95% CI, 1.1-46) were significantly associated with the need for intestinal resection.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal symptoms>2 days, age<1 year, multiple ultrasound findings, and failure of initial enema reduction are significant predictors of operative treatment for intussusception. Patients with these findings should be considered for early surgical consultation or transfer to a hospital with pediatric surgical capabilities.

Recurrent Intussusception: when Should Surgical Intervention be performed?

OBJECTIVE

To determine the optimal timing of surgery for recurrent intussusception.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients aged from 0 to 18 years old with diagnosis of intussusception in the Pediatric Department at Mackay Memorial Hospital between January 1995 and May 2010.

RESULTS

During the study period, there were 686 children (divided into three age groups: 367 < 2 years, 289 aged 2 to 5 years, 30 > 5 years) with diagnoses of intussusception. Eighty-five of the 686 patients had recurrent intussusception, of whom 56 had two, 16 had three, 11 had four, and 2 had five episodes. The recurrence rate after the first, second, third, and fourth barium enema reductions were 15.7%, 37.7%, 68.4%, and 100.0%, respectively. The incidence of recurrence and failure rate of barium enema reduction did not differ significantly among these three age groups. Surgery was performed in 177 children (146 during the first episode and 31 in recurrent cases). The probability of eventual surgery after first enema reduction was 21.8%, after the second 35.7%, and after the third 70.0%. Lead points were found in 15 children, and all of them were found during surgery for the first episode of intussusception.

CONCLUSION

The probability of recurrence was 100% after the fourth episode of intussusception in our study. After the third episode of intussusception, the probability of recurrence and eventual surgery were 68% and 70%, respectively. From this study, surgical intervention should be considered at the third episode of intussusception.

Predictors of failed enema reduction in childhood intussusception

BACKGROUND

Initial management of intussusception is enema reduction. Data are scarce on predicting which patients are unlikely to have a successful reduction. Therefore, we reviewed our experience to identify factors predictive of enema failure.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all episodes of intussusception over the past 10 years was conducted. Demographics, presentation variables, colonic extent of intussusceptions, and hospital course were collected. Extent of intussusception was classified as right, transverse, descending, and rectosigmoid. Episodes were grouped as success or failure of enema reduction and compared using the Student t test for continuous variables and χ(2) test for dichotomous variables. Significance was P less than .05.

RESULTS

We identified 405 episodes of intussusception and 371 attempts at enema reduction. There were 285 successful enema reductions. There was no difference between groups in age; sex; or the presence of emesis, fever, or abdominal mass. The failed enema group was more likely to have had symptoms over 24 hours before presentation (P = .006), bloody diarrhea (P < .001), and lethargy (P < .001). The chance of success diminished with colonic extent (right, 88%; transverse, 73%; left, 43%; colorectal, 29%; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Predictors of failed enema reduction of intussusception include presence of symptoms over 24 hours, diarrhea, lethargy, and distal extent of intussusception.

Does the length of the history influence the outcome of pneumatic reduction of intussusception in children?

PURPOSE

Intussusception is the most common cause of acute abdomen in infants and preschool children. Nonoperative reduction using air enema is an established treatment in children with intussusception. The aim of this study was to determine whether length of the history influences the outcome of pneumatic reduction of intussusception in children?

METHODS

The medical records of 256 consecutive children with intussusception between July 1998 and June 2010, who underwent air enema reduction regardless of the length of the history were reviewed. In all 256 patients, intussusception was confirmed by ultrasound before proceeding to air enema.

RESULTS

The length of history ranged from 2 to 240 h with median time of 18.5 h. The median age in 256 patients was 7 months (range 1 day to 12 years). The presenting clinical features included irritability/abdominal pain (77%), vomiting (80%), bleeding per rectum (36%) and palpable abdominal mass (50%). Air enema reduction was successful in 234 (91.5%) of the 256 patients. In 22 (8.5%) patients, air enema failed to reduce the intussusception and 3 (1.1%) of these patients had colonic perforation during the procedure. All 22 patients required surgery. The duration of symptoms did not influence the outcome of pneumatic reduction. 37 (14%) patients developed recurrence after successful pneumatic reduction of intussusception, with 58% presenting within 48 h of the initial procedure.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that pneumatic reduction should be first-line treatment in all children with intussusception regardless of the length of the history.

Management of pediatric intussusception in general hospitals: diagnosis, treatment, and differences based on age

BACKGROUND

age related differences in the management and outcomes of children with ileocolic intussusception have not been previously published. The purpose of this study is to compare the differences in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric ileocolic intussusception based upon age in general hospitals.

METHODS

a review was made of pediatric patients treated for intussusception at 11 hospitals between 1996 and 2007. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on age: group A: <6 months (n=37), group B: 6 months to 4 years (n=126), group C: >4 years (n=25). Diagnostic modality, operative reports, and hospital records were reviewed.

RESULTS

altogether 188 patients were treated for ileocolic intussusception. Contrast enema was performed in 80.3% of the patients. Initial treatment for the patients included contrast enema in 80.3%, immediate operation in 3.2%, and others in 16.5%. Older patients were less likely to undergo a contrast enema (P<0.05) but more likely to be successfully reduced. Patients in group A had the lowest rate of successful reduction (P<0.05). Overall, 3.2% of the patients were taken to the operating room without any diagnostic evaluations, but 65% of the patients ultimately required operative intervention. Patients in groups A and C were more likely to undergo an operation (P<0.05). Rates of bowel resection and length of hospital stay were similar among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

enema reduction for ileocolic intussusception is moderately successful in general hospitals and lower than that reported in children's hospitals. The lowest reduction rate occurs in patients of less than 6 months old and the diagnosis of intussusception in older children is rarely made by contrast enema. There is a higher operative rate in children of less than 6 months or older than 4 years and the rate of intestinal resection is higher than that in children's hospitals.

Pediatric small bowel intussusception disease: feasibility of screening for surgery with early computed tomographic evaluation

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the feasibility of early computed tomographic (CT) evaluation and the operative results of pediatric small bowel intussusception with deteriorating ischemic or obstructive symptoms, so-called small bowel intussusception disease (SBID).

METHODS

Between 1988 and 1999, among 18 patients surgically proven SBID (conventional group), 12 mimicked ileocolic intussusception and were conventionally managed with abdominal radiography, ultrasonography, reduction enema, and eventually operation. Between 2000 and 2008, we applied a modified approach with inclusion of early CT evaluation if ultrasonography showed a target lesion suspicious for SBID (diameter </=3.0 cm and/or atypically located in the paraumbilical or left abdomen). Among 15 surgically proven SBID patients (early CT group), 13 underwent early operation after CT confirmation. The clinical, imaging, and operative findings were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in age, gender, clinical presentations, leukocyte count, ultrasonographic features, locations of SBID, or the presence of lead points. Most patients presented with vomiting, abdominal pain, or irritable crying. In comparison with the conventional group, early CT group patients had a significantly shorter duration between admission and surgery (31.44 +/- 30.39 vs 7.47 +/- 5.95 hours; P < .01) and a lower rate of bowel complications (44.4% vs 6.7%; P = .02).

CONCLUSION

Pediatric SBID may present with nonspecific symptoms and may mimic ileocolic intussusception leading to delayed operative intervention. Early CT evaluation of patients with suspicious SBID ultrasonographic features is effective in avoiding futile reduction enema and significantly reducing the waiting time for operative management and the resultant incidence of bowel complications.