Three-year surveillance of intussusception in children in Switzerland

Intussusception With a Pathological Lead Point in a Two-Month-Old Infant

Intussusception is one of the most common causes of acute intestinal obstruction in infancy and early childhood. Most cases of intussusception tend to occur in infancy, between the ages of four and six months. The causes can be split into two categories: non-pathologic and pathologic. Non-pathological causes include administration of the rotavirus vaccine, dehydration, and recent illness. Pathological causes can be attributed to Meckel's diverticulum (in 75% of cases), polyps (15%), and lymphoma or other tumors (3%). Intussusception rarely occurs in infants less than three months of age. If intussusception does occur in patients under three months of age, the cause is idiopathic in up to 75% of the cases. Additionally, myoglandular-type polyps are exceedingly rare and very rarely occur in patients under the age of 50. This case report discusses the diagnosis and treatment of intussusception in a two-month-old male patient who initially presented to the pediatric inpatient unit for dehydration secondary to a suspected viral illness, later developing colicky abdominal pain and bloody stools. He was found to have colo-colonic intussusception with a myoglandular-type polyp lead point. In discussing this case, the aim is to teach about intussusception and myoglandular-type polyps, as well as reveal a rarity in both etiologies for this age group.

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.

Adenovirus infection is a risk factor for recurrent intussusception in pediatric patients

BACKGROUND

Human adenoviruses are the most common pathogens to be isolated from cases of pediatric intussusception. However, the specific clinical characteristics of pediatric intussusception associated with adenovirus infection are poorly known.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of pediatric patients (≤18 years of age) with intussusception treated between January 2014 and December 2020. We enrolled patients with febrile episodes, 27 with and 29 without adenovirus infections (the latter serving as control group). The demographic data, clinical characteristics, and the diagnoses and management strategies were evaluated.

RESULTS

The adenovirus group exhibited a significantly longer febrile duration (4.3 ± 1.9 vs. 3.3 ± 1.1 days, p = 0.020) than the control group, with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.098 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.223-21.254, p = 0.025). The recurrence rates were 48.1% and 13.8% in the two groups (OR 5.804; 95% CI: 1.585-21.245, p = 0.008). Most adenoviruses were non-enteric (85.2%).

CONCLUSION

Adenovirus-related intussusception is associated with a longer febrile period and a higher rate of intussusception recurrence. It is recommended that patients suspected of adenovirus-related intussusception should be observed for longer than others prior to discharge.

Sedation and Analgesia for Reduction of Pediatric Ileocolic Intussusception

Importance

Ileocolic intussusception is an important cause of intestinal obstruction in children. Reduction of ileocolic intussusception using air or fluid enema is the standard of care. This likely distressing procedure is usually performed without sedation or analgesia, but practice variation exists.

Objective

To characterize the prevalence of opioid analgesia and sedation and assess their association with intestinal perforation and failed reduction.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study reviewed medical records of children aged 4 to 48 months with attempted reduction of ileocolic intussusception at 86 pediatric tertiary care institutions in 14 countries from January 2017 to December 2019. Of 3555 eligible medical records, 352 were excluded, and 3203 medical records were eligible. Data were analyzed in August 2022.

Exposures

Reduction of ileocolic intussusception.

Main outcomes and measures

The primary outcomes were opioid analgesia within 120 minutes of reduction based on the therapeutic window of IV morphine and sedation immediately before reduction of intussusception.

Results

We included 3203 patients (median [IQR] age, 17 [9-27] months; 2054 of 3203 [64.1%] males). Opioid use was documented in 395 of 3134 patients (12.6%), sedation 334 of 3161 patients (10.6%), and opioids plus sedation in 178 of 3134 patients (5.7%). Perforation was uncommon and occurred in 13 of 3203 patients (0.4%). In the unadjusted analysis, opioids plus sedation (odds ratio [OR], 5.92; 95% CI, 1.28-27.42; P = .02) and a greater number of reduction attempts (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.03-2.11; P = .03) were significantly associated with perforation. In the adjusted analysis, neither of these covariates remained significant. Reductions were successful in 2700 of 3184 attempts (84.8%). In the unadjusted analysis, younger age, no pain assessment at triage, opioids, longer duration of symptoms, hydrostatic enema, and gastrointestinal anomaly were significantly associated with failed reduction. In the adjusted analysis, only younger age (OR, 1.05 per month; 95% CI, 1.03-1.06 per month; P < .001), shorter duration of symptoms (OR, 0.96 per hour; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99 per hour; P = .002), and gastrointestinal anomaly (OR, 6.50; 95% CI, 2.04-20.64; P = .002) remained significant.

Conclusions and Relevance

This cross-sectional study of pediatric ileocolic intussusception found that more than two-thirds of patients received neither analgesia nor sedation. Neither was associated with intestinal perforation or failed reduction, challenging the widespread practice of withholding analgesia and sedation for reduction of ileocolic intussusception in children.

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment of children with acute intussusception: a case series

BACKGROUND

To summarize the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of acute intussusception.

METHODS

This retrospective study included pediatric patients with acute intussusception admitted to the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, from January 2014 to December 2019.

RESULTS

A total of 402 infants/children were included (301 males and 101 females) with a mean age of 2.4 ± 1.5 years (2 months to 9 years). Thirty patients (7.5%) had a history of cold food intake, diarrhea, and upper respiratory infection before disease onset. Paroxysmal abdominal pain and crying occurred in 338 patients (84.1%). Eight patients (2.0%) had the typical triad, 167 (41.5%) had vomiting, 24 (6.0%) had bloody stools, and 273 (67.9%) had palpable abdominal mass. The average intussusception depth was 4.0 ± 1.4 cm. Air enema reduction was performed in 344 cases: 335 (97.3%) were successful. Fifty-eight patients were treated with intravenous phloroglucinol (2 mg/kg), and 53 (91.4%) were successful. Sixty-five patients suffered relapses, with a relapse rate of 16.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric acute intussusception is common. There was no obvious etiology. The clinical manifestations are mostly atypical. Abdominal pain is the most common complaint. Air enema reduction is an effective treatment. The recurrence rate is high.

Intussusception in a 4-Year-Old Male Due to Burkitt Lymphoma

Intussusception is the invagination of a proximal bowel segment into a distal segment causing bowel obstruction, especially in children. In some cases, it can be caused by a pathological lead point, such as Burkitt lymphoma. Burkitt lymphoma has several patterns of clinical presentations, such as jaw or facial bone tumor in the endemic form, in contrast to an abdominal presentation most often with massive disease and ascites. We describe a case of a 4-year-old male who presented bowel obstruction. Using X-ray and ultrasound findings, ileocecal intussusception was then diagnosed. Resection and anastomosis was performed after multiple trials of failed hydrostatic reduction. On the pathology report of the resected segment, Burkitt lymphoma was found to be the cause and chemotherapy was initiated. The patient is doing well and is following up every 6 months for 2 years. A pathological lead point, especially Burkitt lymphoma, should be suspected in patients with failed conservative treatment, and prompt diagnosis of the pathology should be performed to prevent further sequela of the disease.

Current diagnosis and image-guided reduction for intussusception in children

Intussusception involves an invagination of the proximal bowel into the distal bowel, with ileocolic intussusception being the most common type. However, a diagnostic delay can lead to intestinal ischemia, bowel infarction, or even death; therefore, its early diagnosis and management are important. The primary role of abdominal radiography is to detect pneumoperitoneum or high-grade bowel obstruction in cases of suspected intussusception, and ultrasonography is the modality of choice for its diagnosis. Nonoperative enema reduction, the treatment of choice for childhood intussusception in cases without signs of perforation or peritonitis, can be safely performed with a success rate of 82%. Enema reduction can be performed in various ways according to image guidance method (fluoroscopy or ultrasonography) and reduction medium (liquid or air). Successful enema reduction is less likely to be achieved in children with a longer symptom duration, younger age, lethargy, fever, bloody diarrhea, unfavorable radiologic findings (small bowel obstruction, trapped fluid, ascites, absence of flow in the intussusception, intussusception in the left-sided colon), and pathological lead points. This review highlights the current concepts of intussusception diagnosis, nonsurgical enema reduction, success rates, predictors of failed enema reduction, complications, and recurrence to guide general pediatricians in the management of childhood intussusception.

Intussusception and COVID-19 in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Intussusception (ISN) post-COVID-19 infection in children is rare but can occur. SARS-CoV-2 may play a role in the pathogenesis of ISN and trigger immune activation and mesenteric adenitis, which predispose peristaltic activity to “telescope” a proximal bowel segment into the distal bowel lumen. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in ISN children and analyze the demographic parameters, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in ISN pediatric patients with COVID-19 illness. Methods: We performed this systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Studies reporting on the incidence of ISN post-SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, published from 1 December 2019 until 1 October 2022, in PROQUEST, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED, CINAHL, WILEY ONLINE LIBRARY, SCOPUS and NATURE, with a restriction to articles available in the English language, were included. Results: Of the 169 papers that were identified, 34 articles were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis (28 case report, 5 cohort and 1 case-series studies). Studies involving 64 ISN patients with confirmed COVID-19 (all patients were children) were analyzed. The overall pooled proportions of the ISN patients who had PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was 0.06% (95% CI 0.03 to 0.09, n = 1790, four studies, I2 0%, p = 0.64), while 0.07% (95% CI 0.03 to 0.12, n = 1552, three studies, I2 0%, p = 0.47) had success to ISN pneumatic, hydrostatic and surgical reduction treatment and 0.04% (95% CI 0.00 to 0.09, n = 923, two studies, I2 0%, p = 0.97) had failure to ISN pneumatic, hydrostatic and surgical reduction treatment. The median patient age ranged from 1 to 132 months across studies, and most of the patients were in the 1−12 month age group (n = 32, 50%), p = 0.001. The majority of the patients were male (n = 41, 64.1%, p = 0.000) and belonged to White (Caucasian) (n = 25, 39.1%), Hispanic (n = 13, 20.3%) and Asian (n = 5, 7.8%) ethnicity, p = 0.000. The reported ISN classifications by location were mostly ileocolic (n = 35, 54.7%), and few children experienced ileo-ileal ISN (n = 4, 6.2%), p = 0.001. The most common symptoms from ISN were vomiting (n = 36, 56.2%), abdominal pain (n = 29, 45.3%), red currant jelly stools (n = 25, 39.1%) and blood in stool (n = 15, 23.4%). Half of the patients never had any medical comorbidities (n = 32, 50%), p = 0.036. The approaches and treatments commonly used to manage ISN included surgical reduction of the ISN (n = 17, 26.6%), pneumatic reduction of the ISN (n = 13, 20.2%), antibiotics (n = 12, 18.7%), hydrostatic reduction of the ISN (n = 11, 17.2%), laparotomy (n = 10, 15.6%), intravenous fluids (n = 8, 12.5%) and surgical resection (n = 5, 7.8%), p = 0.051. ISN was recurrent in two cases only (n = 2, 3.1%). The patients experienced failure to pneumatic (n = 7, 10.9%), hydrostatic (n = 6, 9.4%) and surgical (n = 1, 1.5%) ISN treatment, p = 0.002. The odds ratios of death were significantly higher in patients with a female gender (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.31−0.79, p = 0.045), Asian ethnicity (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.28−0.48, p < 0.001), failure to pneumatic or surgical ISN reduction treatment (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.05−0.21, p = 0.036), admission to ICU (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.83−1.18, p = 0.03), intubation and placement of mechanical ventilation (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.51−1.41, p = 0.01) or suffering from ARDS (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.93−1.88, p = 0.01) compared to those who survived. Conclusion: Children with SARS-CoV-2 infection are at low risk to develop ISN. A female gender, Asian ethnicity, failure to ISN reduction treatment (pneumatic or surgical), admission to ICU, mechanical ventilation and suffering from ARDS were significantly associated with death following ISN in pediatric COVID-19 patients.

Intussusception as a presentation of Burkitt’s lymphoma: a case series

Background Intussusception remains one of the most common emergencies in pediatrics. It typically occurs between six months and three years of age, but it can be observed in all age groups. Intussusception usually presents with traditionally described symptoms; however, it is believed that the older the patient, the higher the risk of an existing pathological lead point, which could be associated with less characteristic symptoms. It is crucial to make a timely diagnosis when intussusception is caused by a malignancy, such as Burkitt’s lymphoma, as the treatment of limited-stage Burkitt’s lymphoma has become very successful in recent years. Aim of the study The authors performed an analysis of all patients who presented to the clinic with intussusception caused by Burkitt’s lymphoma to determine whether there are characteristic symptoms in this group of patients that would enable faster implementation of oncological diagnostics. Case series Four patients with an average age of eight years presented with intussusception as the first sign of Burkitt’s lymphoma. They usually presented with a history of recurrent abdominal pain lasting for a few weeks. In three cases, a pathological lead point was visualized during the initial ultrasound examination. All of the patients were treated surgically. The stage of disease ranged from I to III, according to the St. Jude staging system. Conclusions Based on our small group of patients, we were able to observe some characteristic symptoms that are different from those most commonly seen in spontaneous intussusception: several weeks of recurrent abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. These observations are consistent with the spectrum and frequency of symptoms reported in the literature. The presence of a constellation of specific clinical features should allow clinicians to immediately suspect neoplastic diseases.

Acute Calculous Cholecystitis Presenting as an Acute Abdomen in a Five-Month-Old Child

Acute cholecystitis is an exceedingly rare condition in young children; nevertheless, it should be considered while investigating an acute abdomen. We report a case of a five-month-old male who presented to the pediatric emergency department with inconsolable crying, decreased oral intake, vomiting, diarrhea, and a tender right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Laboratory studies revealed elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase and the abdominal ultrasound was suggestive of acute calculous cholecystitis. The patient was treated with intravenous hydration and antimicrobial therapy, avoiding the need for emergent cholecystectomy. A calcium bilirubinate calculus was observed in the feces but no etiology was found after extensive investigation. We aim to raise awareness of this diagnosis and the need for prompt initiation of therapy to avoid complications.

Reduction of ileocolic intussusception under sedation or anaesthesia: a systematic review of complications

BACKGROUND

Despite the increased use of sedation in children undergoing stressful procedures, reduction of ileocolic intussusception (RII) is usually performed on awake children without any form of sedation.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the incidence of severe complications of RII under sedation or anaesthesia.

DESIGN

A systematic review including English language original articles of any date.

PATIENTS

Children undergoing RII (pneumatic or hydrostatic) under sedation or anaesthesia.

DATA SOURCES

Ovid Embase, Scopus, PubMed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the internet search engine Google Scholar.

DATA EXTRACTION

Three authors independently reviewed each article for eligibility. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of included studies.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the incidence of intestinal perforation during RII. The secondary outcomes were the incidence of sentinel adverse events defined as death, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, permanent neurological deficit and pulmonary aspiration syndrome.

RESULTS

The search yielded 368 articles. Nine studies with 1391 cases were included in the analysis. Of the nine studies, six had a score of ≤6 stars in the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale assessment, indicating low-to-moderate quality. Propofol-based sedation was used in 849 (59.2%) cases; 5 (0.6%) had intestinal perforation. Intestinal perforation was not reported in patients who were sedated with other sedatives. One patient had pulmonary aspiration syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Although caution remains warranted, current data suggest that the incidence of severe complications due to RII under sedation or anaesthesia is low. Due to the lack of prospective data, it is difficult to ascertain the exact incidence of severe complications.

Unsuspecting Lead Points Causing Nonobstructing Intussusceptions in Pediatric Patients Presenting with Chronic Pain Abdomen

Intussusception is one of the common causes of bowel obstruction in pediatric age group and is of idiopathic variety in most of the cases. Nonobstructing intussusception presenting with nonspecific symptoms (or chronic pain abdomen) is rare and usually clinically misdiagnosed/difficult to diagnose. The authors present a pictorial review of 10 cases of pediatric nonobstructing intussusception presenting with acute/chronic abdominal pain which were not suspected clinically but diagnosed with a pathologic lead point radiologically.

Laparoscopic approach for managing intussusception in children: Analysis of 65 cases

BACKGROUND

Intussusception can be managed by pneumatic reduction, ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction, open or laparoscopic surgery, but laparoscopy in such cases remains controversial.

AIM

To explore the clinical characteristics, effectiveness, and complications of surgical reduction for intussusception using laparoscopy in children.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective case series of pediatric patients with intussusception who underwent surgical reduction by laparoscopy from May 2011 to April 2016 at Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province. Clinical characteristics (operation time, intraoperative blood loss, conversion rate of laparotomy, reasons for conversion, postoperative hospital stay, and adverse events) were described.

RESULTS

The 65 patients included 45 boys and 20 girls. The average age was 2.3 years (27.5 ± 24.5 mo). Of the 65 patients, 61 underwent surgical reduction by laparoscopy after a failed enema reduction of intussusception, and four underwent the procedure directly. All patients were treated successfully and 57 (87.7%) patients underwent successful laparoscopic surgery, two of which had a spontaneous reduction. Among the remaining cases, one was converted to open surgery via right upper quadrant incision, and seven required enlarged umbilical incisions. Intestinal resection was performed in 5 patients because of abnormal bowel lesions. There were no complications (intestinal perforations, wound infections, or intestinal adhesions) during the follow-up of 3 years to 8 years. Two patients experienced a recurrence of intussusception; one was resolved with pneumatic reduction, and the other underwent a second laparoscopic surgery.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic approach for pediatric intussusception is feasible and safe. Bowel resection if required can be performed by extending umbilical incision without the conventional laparotomy.

Review of Over 15 Years Postmarketing Safety Surveillance Spontaneous Data for the Human Rotavirus Vaccine (Rotarix) on Intussusception

Introduction

Rotavirus (RV) is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children <5 years of age worldwide, and vaccination reduces the disease burden. Evidence from postmarketing surveillance studies suggested an increased risk of intussusception (IS) in infants post-RV vaccination. An overall positive benefit–risk balance for the human RV vaccine (HRV) Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline [GSK], Belgium) has been established and recent findings indicate an indirect effect of reduced IS over the long term.

Objective

The aim of this study was to discuss spontaneous data from the GSK worldwide safety database on IS post-Rotarix administration.

Methods

The database was reviewed for all spontaneous IS cases from 2004 to 2020. Additionally, an observed versus expected (O/E) analysis was done for adverse events attributed to IS. Data were reviewed as overall worldwide and stratified by region (Europe/USA/Japan) and dose.

Results

A male predominance of IS patients was observed, consistent with earlier reports. The most frequently reported events in confirmed IS cases (Brighton Collaboration Working Group [BCWG] level 1) with time to onset ≤ 30 days post-vaccination were vomiting (55.8%), haematochezia (47.2%), and crying (21.1%). The observations from the IS spontaneous cases review and results of the O/E analysis are consistent with the known IS safety profile of RV vaccines: a transient increased incidence of IS post-vaccination (primarily in Europe/Japan/worldwide), mostly within 7 days postdose 1.

Conclusion

Since the outcomes of early IS management are favourable over delayed management, healthcare professionals should inform parents about the importance of seeking immediate medical advice in case of unusual behaviour of the vaccinated infant. GSK continues to monitor the IS risk post-Rotarix administration through routine pharmacovigilance activities.

Graphic abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40264-021-01141-4.

Rotavirus (RV) is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis and a major cause of death in young children worldwide. Vaccination has been instrumental in reducing the impact of RV disease. Real-world evidence suggests an increased risk of intussusception (an infrequent type of bowel obstruction) in infants following RV vaccination. We reviewed IS cases reported spontaneously worldwide in children following a two-dose vaccination with the human RV vaccine (Rotarix, GlaxoSmithKline [GSK]) since its launch in 2004. We observed that (1) IS occurred more frequently 7 days after the first dose and, to a lesser extent, after the second dose; (2) boys were more frequently affected than girls (56.3%); (3) of 862 confirmed reported cases, 557 required hospitalisation; and (4) surgical intervention was required for 294 of 557 hospitalised cases. We used statistical analysis to assess whether the number of cases observed would be higher or lower than the natural occurrence of IS (irrespective of vaccination). These results were in line with the known RV vaccine safety profile. It is important to constantly monitor the real-world safety profile of RV vaccines in the postmarketing setting. Since the outcomes of early management of IS are favourable compared with delayed management, healthcare professionals should inform parents to seek immediate medical advice if they observe unusual behaviour in their vaccinated child. In conclusion, our analyses on data of a large patient pool for this rare event reinforce the favourable safety profile of human RV vaccine and the benefits of vaccination in young children.

The impact of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic on rates of pediatric idiopathic intussusception

BACKGROUND

The causes of idiopathic ileocolic intussusception are unknown, with infection as the most likely culprit. Recently, social distancing measures were implemented during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to decrease transmissible infectious diseases, creating an opportune setting to study the role of infection on the pathogenesis of intussusception on a population level.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of social distancing on intussusception.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed air contrast enemas and pylorus ultrasounds performed between March 2010 and March 2021 to identify cases of ileocolic intussusception and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS), using the latter as a negative control. The study time frame was divided into two periods: pre-pandemic (March 2010-February 2020) and pandemic (April 2020-March 2021). The number of cases that occurred in these two time periods were compared using the Poisson regression model.

RESULTS

Of the 407 cases of idiopathic ileocolic intussusception identified, 396 occurred in the pre-pandemic time period (mean = 39.6 per 12-month period) and 11 occurred in the 12-month pandemic time period. The mean monthly number of intussusceptions showed a decline of 72% (95% confidence interval [CI] 49-85%) between the pre-pandemic and pandemic time periods (3.3 vs. 0.9 monthly cases; P < 0.001). In contrast, the mean monthly number of HPS did not differ significantly (P = 0.19).

CONCLUSION

Social distancing-imposed to curb the spread of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic-resulted in a significant decline in ileocolic intussusception, lending strong support to the theory that infection is the dominant cause of intussusception.

Differences in Clinical Findings Based on the Duration of Symptoms and Age of Children With Ileocolic Intussusception: A Single-Institution Survey in Rural Japan

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to determine whether the rates of abdominal pain or irritability, vomiting, and hematochezia differ depending on the duration of symptoms and age of the children with ileocolic intussusception.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated the charts of ileocolic intussusception children between January 2008 and December 2017 at a rural general hospital in Japan. Children were separated into 2 groups: the early visiting group, including children examined within 6 hours after onset, and the late visiting group, including children examined more than 6 hours after onset. We further separated them into 2 groups based on age: the infant group (age, <18 months) and the child group (age, ≥18 months). We compared clinical features, such as abdominal pain or irritability, vomiting, and hematochezia, between each group.

RESULTS

Among 105 children with ileocolic intussusception, 51 were in the early visiting group and 49 were in the infant group. Hematochezia less frequently occurred in the early visiting group than in the late visiting group (29% vs 50%, P = 0.046). Furthermore, abdominal pain or irritability occurred less frequently in the infant group than in the child group (79.6% vs 98.2%, P = 0.003). Conversely, vomiting and hematochezia were more frequent in the infant group than in the child group (83.7% vs 51.8%, P < 0.001; 55.1% vs 26.8%, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical features of pediatric ileocolic intussusception may depend on symptom duration and age.

Intussusception in children under five years of age in Enugu, Nigeria

Introduction

intussusception is the invagination of a segment of the bowel into a distal segment. It occurs predominantly in infants worldwide. Following documentation of increased incidence after introduction of the first rotavirus vaccine (Rotashield, Wyeth-Lederle), it has become a standard recommendation to maintain surveillance for intussusception as newer rotavirus vaccines are introduced into EPI. Nigeria plans to introduce rotavirus vaccine in 2020. Pre-vaccine introduction surveillance will serve as a baseline to understand the epidemiology of intussusception in Nigeria.

Methods

from 2013 to 2017, prospective enrolment of under five children with intussusception was done following the WHO protocol and using the WHO case report form. Only children who met the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) protocol case definition for intussusception were enrolled. These children were monitored until discharge or death. Clinical features and outcome were recorded in the case report form.

Results

a total of 63 cases were enrolled, with age range of 3 to 42 months (median: 6 months, IQR: 5-9 months). Majority were within 4-6 months and 96% were < 12 months old. There were 41 males and 22 females (male to female ratio of 1.9:1). Duration of symptoms before presentation ranged from 2 hours to 15 days (median: 72 hours). Fifty-seven patients had abdominal ultrasound and 52 patients (83%) had surgery. Case fatality rate was 9% and duration of hospitalization ranged from 1 to 30 days (median 10 days, IQR 8-15 days).

Conclusion

intussusception occurred most commonly in infants but well beyond the proposed age for rotavirus vaccination in the population studied. Late presentation and surgical intervention were common. This data provides a good baseline description of the epidemiology of intussusception.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Intussusception: A Multicenter, Noninferiority Study of Paired Diagnostic Tests

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by experienced clinician sonologists compared to radiology-performed ultrasound (RADUS) for detection of clinically important intussusception, defined as intussusception requiring radiographic or surgical reduction.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, noninferiority, observational study among a convenience sample of children aged 3 months to 6 years treated in tertiary care emergency departments across North and Central America, Europe, and Australia. The primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy of POCUS and RADUS with respect to clinically important intussusception. Sample size was determined using a 4-percentage-point noninferiority margin for the absolute difference in accuracy. Secondary outcomes included agreement between POCUS and RADUS for identification of secondary sonographic findings.

RESULTS

The analysis included 256 children across 17 sites (35 sonologists). Of the 256 children, 58 (22.7%) had clinically important intussusception. POCUS identified 60 (23.4%) children with clinically important intussusception. The diagnostic accuracy of POCUS was 97.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 94.9% to 99.0%), compared to 99.3% (95% CI 96.8% to 99.9%) for RADUS. The absolute difference between the accuracy of RADUS and that of POCUS was 1.5 percentage points (95% CI -0.6 to 3.6). Sensitivity for POCUS was 96.6% (95% CI 87.2% to 99.1%), and specificity was 98.0% (95% CI 94.7% to 99.2%). Agreement was high between POCUS and RADUS for identification of trapped free fluid (83.3%, n=40/48) and decreased color Doppler signal (95.7%, n=22/23).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the diagnostic accuracy of POCUS performed by experienced clinician sonologists may be noninferior to that of RADUS for detection of clinically important intussusception. Given the limitations of convenience sampling and spectrum bias, a larger randomized controlled trial is warranted.

Association of meteorological parameters with intussusception in children aged under 2 years: results from a multisite bidirectional surveillance over 7 years in India

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to document the association between intussusception in Indian children and meteorological parameters and examine regional variations.

DESIGN

A bidirectional (retrospective and prospective) surveillance between July 2010 and September 2017.

SETTING

At 20 hospitals in India, retrospective case record review during July 2010 and March 2016 and prospective surveillance during April 2016 and September 2017 were performed.

PARTICIPANTS

2161 children aged 2-24 months with first intussusception episode were included.

INTERVENTIONS

The monthly mean meteorological parameters (temperature, sunshine, rainfall, humidity and wind speed) for the study sites were collected.

METHODS

The association between monthly intussusception cases and meteorological parameters was examined at pooled, regional and site levels using Pearson (r) and Spearman's rank-order (ρ) correlation, factorial analysis of variance, and Poisson regression or negative binomial regression analyses.

RESULTS

The intussusception cases were highest in summer and lowest in autumn seasons. Pearson correlation analysis showed that temperature (r=0.056; p<0.05), wind speed (r=0.134; p<0.01) and humidity (r=0.075; p<0.01) were associated with monthly intussusception cases. Spearman's rank-order correlation analysis found that temperature (ρ=0.049; p<0.05), wind speed (ρ=0.096; p<0.01) and sunshine (ρ=0.051; p<0.05) were associated with monthly intussusception cases. Poisson regression analysis resulted that monthly intussusception case was associated with rising temperature (North region, p<0.01 and East region, p<0.05), sunshine (North region, p<0.01), humidity (East region, p<0.01) and wind speed (East region, p<0.01). Factorial analysis of variance revealed a significant seasonal difference in intussusception cases for pooled level (p<0.05), 2-6 months age group (p<0.05) and North region (p<0.01). Significant differences in intussusception cases between summer and autumn seasons were observed for pooled (p<0.01), children aged 2-6 months (p<0.05) and 7-12 months (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant correlations between intussusception cases and temperature, humidity, and wind speed were observed at pooled and regional level in India. A peak in summer months was noted, which may be used for prediction, early detection and referral for appropriate management of intussusception.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound May Reduce Misdiagnosis of Pediatric Intussusception

Aim: Intussusception, the most common abdominal emergency in early childhood, is frequently misdiagnosed at initial presentation. The effect of using point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) by emergency medicine physicians on pediatric intussusception misdiagnosis rate remains unclear. Here, we summarize outcomes and misdiagnoses before and after training junior and senior physicians on using POCUS for diagnosing intussusception and compared their performance levels. Materials and Methods: This observational cohort analysis included patients with suspected intussusception who visited a pediatric emergency department (ED) between January 2017 and December 2019. All enrolled patients were evaluated by junior (<10-year experience) or senior attending physicians. Misdiagnosis was defined as a finding of negative air reduction or confirmation of diagnosis on ED revisit or admission. The misdiagnosis rates and outcomes before and after POCUS training for intussusception diagnosis were evaluated and performance of the junior and senior physicians was compared. Results: Of the 167 enrolled patients, 130 were confirmed to have intussusception by air reduction. Misdiagnosis rate was significantly lower in the post-training patient group after training than in the pre-training patient group (43.7 vs. 12.7%, P < 0.001). After training, fewer misdiagnoses were made by the junior (59.1 vs. 25.9%, P = 0.003) and senior (31.7 vs. 0%, P < 0.001) physicians. In the post-training patient group, the door-to-reduction time and rate of ultrasonography consultation with an expert also decreased significantly (118.2 ± 124.5 vs. 198 ± 250.2 min, P = 0.006). Abdominal pain (80.9%) was the most common symptom of intussusception, followed by vomiting (58.3%), fever (17.8%), bloody stool (15.4%), and diarrhea (14.2%). Even after training, the presenting symptoms of intussusception often leading junior physicians to misdiagnosis were diarrhea and fever. Conclusions: A brief POCUS training leads to decreased misdiagnosis rates in both the senior and junior physicians. Junior physicians should increase their awareness regarding diarrhea and fever being the presenting symptoms of intussusception, particularly in early childhood. Combining clinical judgment and POCUS results forms the core principle of the evaluation of children with intussusception.

Clinical Characteristics According to Age and Duration of Symptoms to Be Considered for Rapid Diagnosis of Pediatric Intussusception

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether clinical findings in children with ileocolic intussusception differ based on age and duration of symptoms and to assess the clinical characteristics of diagnosed and undiagnosed patients to determine which symptoms make diagnosis more difficult. Methods: We reviewed 536 medical records of <15-year-old children diagnosed with ileocolic intussusception between 2008 and 2019. We divided the children into three categories according to age (<1 year, 1-2 years, and ≥2 years). The children were also divided into two groups based on whether symptoms lasted for more or <6 h. Diagnosed and undiagnosed children were assessed separately during for the initial evaluation. Results: Following analysis of the three age groups, bloody stool, post-enema bloody stool, diarrhea, vomiting, poor oral intake, and lethargy were more frequent in children aged <1 year. In children aged ≥2 years, non-specific abdominal pain was more frequent and the undiagnosed rate was higher. Following analysis of the duration of symptoms, paroxysmal pain was significantly more frequent in the early group (<6 h), and bloody stool and fever were significantly more frequent in the late group (≥6 h). Nonspecific abdominal pain was more frequent and the door-to-diagnosis time was significantly longer in the undiagnosed group than in the diagnosed group. Conclusions: Clinical findings of ileocolic intussusception vary depending on the age and duration of symptoms. Younger children with paroxysmal pain, vomiting, bloody stool, poor oral intake, or lethargy should be suspected of having intussusception. In older children, non-specific abdominal pain without bloody stool may be a symptom of intussusception. Glycerin enema is helpful in diagnosing intussusception in children with no typical symptoms.

Idiopathic adult intestinal intussusception: a rare cause of an acute surgical abdomen

Intussusception is uncommon among adults. The condition, which is defined as a telescoping of a proximal portion of the small or large bowel into the lumen of an adjacent segment of bowel, is most commonly seen in children. Among pediatric cases, the majority is benign and treated non-operatively. However, in adults, intussusception is the result of pathologic and often malignant lead points in the majority of cases. This makes surgical resection and tissue diagnosis the only definitive treatment option. While the majority of adult intussusception cases involves a pathologic lead point, a small percentage is idiopathic, without an identifiable lead point. We present a 32-year-old man with acute on chronic abdominal pain and cross-sectional imaging that identified jejunal intussusception, which was confirmed in operating room and resected. Interestingly, no pathologic lead point was identified on pathologic review. We discuss our diagnostic approach, surgical decision making and final tissue diagnosis.

Association of air temperature with pediatric intussusception in northeastern China: A 10-year retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether an association existed between intussusception and air temperature.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed between March 2006 and February 2016 to determine the relationship between pediatric primary intussusception (PPI) and air temperature. Information from hospital records of 5922 cases of PPI and Mean daily temperatures of Shenyang were obtained. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the association between monthly PPI cases and monthly mean temperature. Factorial analysis-of-variance was used to examine differences in the numbers of seasonal PPI cases during different seasons.

RESULTS

Monthly PPI cases fluctuated throughout the year, with a peak in June, and a trough in February. Pearson correlation analysis showed that monthly PPI cases was associated with the monthly mean temperature (p < 0.01). Factorial analysis-of-variance showed there was significant difference in the numbers of seasonal PPI cases during different seasons. Multiple comparison showed a significant difference in seasonal PPI cases between spring and summer, spring and winter, summer and autumn, summer and winter, autumn and winter (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Monthly PPI cases were positively associated with monthly mean temperature in Shenyang. The incidence of intussusception shows a seasonal trend, with a peak in summer (May to July).

Neuroendocrine tumour masquerading as intussusception: A case report

•

Intussusception commonly occurs in the paediatric population.

•

Presentation in the adult population is likely malignant.

•

It is important for an intussusception to be managed surgically in adults.

•

Neuroendocrine tumour can present as intussusception in the adult population.

•

Resection with lymph node clearance is needed for complete staging.

Introduction

Intussusception usually occurs in the paediatric population. When it occurs in the adult population, it is normally caused by a malignant intraluminal pathology.

Presentation of case

A 72-year-old female presented to us with right-sided abdominal pain for 3 weeks, associated with vomiting and diarrhoea. She had an appendectomy done 30 years ago and a recent myocardial infarction. Abdominal examination revealed a previous appendectomy scar and tenderness over the right lumbar region. Computed tomography showed ileocaecal intussusception. Right hemicolectomy with a double barrel stoma was performed as she was unstable intraoperatively. Histopathological examination of the tumour showed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumour. Subsequent PET scan showed no systemic disease and a reversal of the stoma was done. She remained disease free for a year.

Discussion

Our patient had undergone a right hemicolectomy despite the high risk of mortality, as there is a high chance of malignancy. Double barrel stoma was done, as she was unstable intraoperatively. Fortunately, she recovered well and had her stoma reversed without any further recurrence of her disease.

Conclusion

Adult patients who present with intussusception should be managed with resection, as there is a high possibility of a malignancy. Early resection should be planned to prevent further spread of the tumour.

Deep learning algorithms for detecting and visualising intussusception on plain abdominal radiography in children: a retrospective multicenter study

This study aimed to verify a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm to detect intussusception in children using a human-annotated data set of plain abdominal X-rays from affected children. From January 2005 to August 2019, 1449 images were collected from plain abdominal X-rays of patients ≤ 6 years old who were diagnosed with intussusception while 9935 images were collected from patients without intussusception from three tertiary academic hospitals (A, B, and C data sets). Single Shot MultiBox Detector and ResNet were used for abdominal detection and intussusception classification, respectively. The diagnostic performance of the algorithm was analysed using internal and external validation tests. The internal test values after training with two hospital data sets were 0.946 to 0.971 for the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), 0.927 to 0.952 for the highest accuracy, and 0.764 to 0.848 for the highest Youden index. The values from external test using the remaining data set were all lower (P-value < 0.001). The mean values of the internal test with all data sets were 0.935 and 0.743 for the AUC and Youden Index, respectively. Detection of intussusception by deep CNN and plain abdominal X-rays could aid in screening for intussusception in children.

Characteristics of Hospitalized Children With SARS-CoV-2 in the New York City Metropolitan Area

OBJECTIVES

To describe the characteristics of hospitalized children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in New York City metropolitan area.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study at 4 hospitals comprising 82 hospitalized children (0-21 years) who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 after symptoms and risk screening between March 1 and May 10, 2020. We subdivided patients on the basis of their admission to acute or critical care units and by age groups. Further subanalyses were performed between patients requiring respiratory support or no respiratory support.

RESULTS

Twenty-three (28%) patients required critical care. Twenty-nine (35%) patients requiring respiratory support, with 9% needing mechanical ventilation, and 1 required extracorporeal support. All patients survived to discharge. Children with any comorbidity were more likely to require critical care (70% vs 37%, P = .008), with obesity as the most common risk factor for critical care (63% vs 28%, P = .02). Children with asthma were more likely to receive respiratory support (28% vs 8%, P = .02), with no difference in need for critical care (P = .26). Children admitted to critical care had higher rates of renal dysfunction at presentation (43% vs 10%, P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

Children with comorbidities (obesity and asthma in particular) were at increased risk for critical care admission and/or need for respiratory support. Children with renal dysfunction at presentation were more likely to require critical care.

Nationwide Population-Based Epidemiologic Study on Childhood Intussusception in South Korea: Emphasis on Treatment and Outcomes

PURPOSE

This was a nationwide population-based study conducted to investigate the epidemiology, treatment, disease outcomes, and associated factors of childhood intussusception in South Korea.

METHODS

Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database on all patients <18 years old diagnosed with intussusception from 2007 to 2017 were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 34,688 cases were identified among 30,444 patients. The overall incidence was 28.3/100,000 person-years with a male predominance. Most cases (83.1%) occurred in children <3 years old, with an annual incidence of 195.2, 200.1, and 118.6 cases per 100,000 children in their first, second, and third year of life, respectively. The median age at the first occurrence was 18.7 months, and it was higher in boys than in girls. The post-discharge recurrence rate was 10.6% (3,226/30,444) and the in-hospital recurrence rate was 6.1% (1,842/30,444). The total recurrence rate (post-discharge recurrence and/or in-hospital recurrence) was 15.0% (4,580/30,444). Enema reduction was successful in 90.0% of cases. Enema reduction was more successful in girls than in boys. A total of 3,296 (10.8%) patients underwent 3,481 surgeries, including 735 (21.1%) laparoscopic surgeries. Post-discharge recurrence and surgery were significantly affected by age, sex, and hospital type. Mortality was noted in nine cases (0.03%).

CONCLUSION

Our study provides accurate epidemiologic data on the treatment and outcomes of intussusception through complete enumeration during an 11-year-period.

Incidence of recurrent intussusception in young children: A nationwide readmissions analysis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Recurrent intussusception following successful nonoperative reduction has previously been reported with a frequency of 8%-12% based on data from individual institutions. Meanwhile, the timing of discharge after successful reduction continues to be debated. Here, we evaluate readmissions for recurrent intussusception in young children using a large-scale national database.

METHODS

The National Readmissions Database (2010-2014) was queried to identify young children (age < 5 years) diagnosed with intussusception. We compared procedures performed during the index admission and frequency of readmissions for recurrent intussusception. Results were weighted for national estimates.

RESULTS

We identified 8289 children diagnosed with intussusception during an index admission. These patients received definitive treatment with nonoperative reduction alone (43%), surgical reduction (42%), or bowel resection (15%). Readmission for recurrent intussusception was required for 3.7% of patients managed with nonoperative reduction alone, 2.3% of patients that underwent surgical reduction, and 0% of those that underwent bowel resection. Median time to readmission was 4 days after nonoperative reduction, and only 1.5% of these patients experienced recurrence within 48 h of discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Recurrent intussusception may be substantially less common than previously reported. Our findings support the practice of discharge shortly after successful nonoperative reduction.

TYPE OF STUDY

Retrospective, prognosis study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Air contrast enema reduction of single and recurrent ileocolic intussusceptions in children: patterns, management and outcomes

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus as to when surgical intervention should be considered for recurrent ileocolic intussusceptions in a stable patient after previous successful air contrast enema.

OBJECTIVE

To review the patterns of ileocolic intussusceptions, air contrast enema success rates, and pathologic lead point rates in patients with and without recurrence to evaluate whether treatment outcomes depend on the number and timing between episodes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 683 children with air contrast enema performed for ileocolic intussusception between January 2000 and May 2018. Recurrent intussusceptions were separated into mutually exclusive categories: short-term only (≤7 days between episodes) and long-term (>7 days between episodes) intussusceptions. Long-term recurrences included both long-term only and long- and short-term intussusceptions.

RESULTS

Of the 683 patients, 606 (89%) had at least 1 successful air contrast enema. Of the 606, 115 (19%) had recurrent intussusceptions after successful reduction. The air contrast enema success rate for a single intussusception was 86% (491/568) and for recurrent intussusceptions was 96% (110/115) (P=0.004). Single and recurrent intussusceptions had similar pathologic lead point rates (3.5% vs. 4.3%; P=0.593). Short-term and long-term recurrences did not differ in air contrast enema success rates (96% vs. 95%). Long-term recurrences had higher pathologic lead point rate compared to short-term only (13% vs. 0%; P=0.003). Of short-term recurrences, 99% (76/77) were ≤5 intussusceptions; 92% had successful air contrast enema without surgery.

CONCLUSION

The majority of recurrent intussusceptions were successfully treated by air contrast enema. Short-term recurrences have lower pathologic lead point rates, suggesting that a higher surgical threshold may be plausible relative to long-term recurrences. In the appropriate clinical context, repeat air contrast enemas are a safe option for short-term recurrences, which can be attempted at least five times, potentially precluding the need for surgical intervention.

Altered Mental Status as the Primary Presentation of Intussusception in a 3-Month-Old Child Diagnosed by Point-Of-Care Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND

Intussusception can lead to significant morbidity in affected children secondary to tissue ischemia and necrosis. When a child outside of the classic age range presents with symptoms other than intermittent abdominal pain, the diagnosis of intussusception can be difficult and is often delayed.

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a three-month-old boy who presented to the emergency department with waxing and waning mental status and seizure-like activity who was ultimately diagnosed with intussusception. The effective use of bedside ultrasonography, by the attending pediatric radiologist, enabled an interdisciplinary team to explore abdominal etiologies in parallel with testing for more commonly seen causes of altered mental status. This led to an expedited diagnosis and successful definitive management. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Intussusception is a common pediatric emergency encountered by emergency physicians where a timely diagnosis can have a profound impact on patient outcomes. Previous case reports highlight how easily intussusception can be overlooked with this atypical neurologic presentation. Furthermore, because patients with profound altered mental status are often too ill to leave the emergency department for diagnostic testing, bedside abdominal ultrasonography may be helpful in these patients.

Terminal Ileitis Presenting With a Spontaneously Reduced Ileocolic Intussusception Diagnosed by Point-of-Care Ultrasonography

Point-of-care ultrasound can be used in the initial workup of ileocolic (IC) intussusception. In general, these lesions require immediate attention and reduction to prevent ischemic bowel injury. We discuss the case of a 27-month-old boy whose IC intussusception was found to spontaneously reduce before a radiology performed ultrasound and the planned air enema reduction procedure. Radiology ultrasound revealed significant inflammatory changes of the terminal ileum. The incidence of spontaneous reduction of IC intussusception is not definitively known. It is important to be familiar with the possibility of spontaneous reduction as children are often referred to academic centers for radiological or surgical reduction. This may also impact the sensitivity of studies that evaluate test characteristics of point-of-care ultrasound compared with radiology performed ultrasound for the diagnosis of IC intussusception. We review the diagnostic technique for IC intussusception and the importance of a prereduction ultrasound immediately before image-guided pressure reduction attempt.

Cecal Intussusception Diagnosed by Total Colonoscopy in a Child: A Case Report

Background: Ileocolic intussusception is the most common form of intussusception in children. Intussusception in the appendix or cecum without a lead point in a child is very rare and was found with total colonoscopy (TCS) and computed tomography. Case Presentation: A 9 year-old boy was admitted to our hospital with fever, vomiting, and two episodes of bloody diarrhea. Inflammatory bowel disease was suspected; TCS was performed and revealed intussusception whose advanced region was in the cecum. The diagnosis was idiopathic cecum intussusception. This case was unusual in that intussusception had occurred at a young age but without lead point; in addition, the intussusception had also occurred at the tip of the cecum. The intussusception was safely reduced by endoscopic procedures, and after improvement in the vomiting, the patient was safely discharged and has had no bloody stools since. Conclusion: We demonstrated cecal intussusception without lead point observed on TCS in a child.

Intussusception among Norwegian children: What to expect after introduction of rotavirus vaccination?

BACKGROUND

To reduce the risk of vaccine-associated intussusception, rotavirus vaccination in Norway was implemented under strict age limits (the first dose given by 12 weeks of age and the second dose by 16 weeks of age) in 2014. We estimated the incidence of intussusception in children <2 years old before vaccine introduction and the number of vaccine-associated cases under current and extended age limits for vaccine administration in Norway.

METHODS

To estimate the baseline incidence, we validated all diagnoses in children <2 years old registered in the national hospital registry during the pre-vaccine period of 2008-2013. Using national vaccine coverage data and international estimates of intussusception risk after rotavirus vaccination, we calculated the numbers of expected vaccine-associated intussusception cases to compare with the estimated numbers of averted rotavirus cases. Uncertainty was accounted for by several scenario analyses using current and extended age limits for vaccine administration.

RESULTS

The pre-vaccine incidence of intussusception was 26.7 (95% CI 23.1-30.6) cases/year per 100,000 children <2 years old and 37.1 (95% CI 31.2-43.8) cases/year per 100,000 children <1 year old. In the 2016 birth cohort (approx. 60,000) vaccinated under the current age limits, 1.3 (95% CI 0.7-2.0) vaccine-associated intussusception cases were expected to occur. If age limits were extended to 16 weeks for the first vaccine dose and 24 weeks for the second dose, leading to more children vaccinated at an older age, 2.2 (95% CI 1.2-3.5) excess cases would be expected in the same cohort. Simultaneously, an estimated 1768 rotavirus hospitalizations/year in children <5 years old would be averted under current age limits, with 98 additional rotavirus hospitalizations averted under extended age limits.

CONCLUSIONS

Administering rotavirus vaccines beyond current age limits in Norway would lead to a marginal increase in the number of intussusception cases, which would be offset by the benefits of vaccination.

Characteristics of intussusception among children in Korea: a nationwide epidemiological study

Background

Intussusception is a gastrointestinal condition in which early treatment is critical. Although its epidemiology and comorbidities have been studied, few studies have included the entire pediatric population of a country. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the epidemiologic features of pediatric intussusception patients and identify comorbidities associated with intussusception in South Korea, using the public health database.

Methods

We analyzed the data of children below 18 years of age, from the national database of South Korea, who were diagnosed with intussusception and managed such as air reduction or surgical methods from 2008 to 2016. Patients were categorized into six groups based on the comorbid diseases. Patients with structural lesion in gastrointestinal tract were divided diagnosis or diagnosis code.

Results

The number of patients diagnosed with intussusception were 25,023 (16,024 males, 64.0%). Of them, the highest percentage was patients aged between 2 and 36 months (20,703; 82.7%). The incidence per 100,000 individuals aged up to 2 years was 196.7. The number of males were 16,024 (64.0%) and were almost twice the number of 8999 (36.0%) female patients. The maximum number of cases (n = 2517; 10.1%) were seen in September, followed by July (n = 2469; 9.9%). In February, the number of cases was lowest at 1448 (5.8%) patients (P < 0.001). The number of patients with structural lesions of the gastrointestinal tract that could lead to intussusception was 1207 (4.8%), while patients with acute gastrointestinal infectious disease were 4541 (18.1%). Among the structural lesions of the gastrointestinal tract that could be the leading cause of intussusception, lymphadenopathy was the most common, seen in 462 (56.6%) patients and an appendix-related condition was seen in 260 (31.9%) patients. Infectious diseases were more common in the younger children, while systemic diseases were more common in the older.

Conclusion

We confirmed that pediatric intussusception in South Korea shows a seasonal tendency, which is age-dependent and is associated with an exposure to infectious agents. Some infectious pathogens and underlying diseases might play an important role in the pathophysiology of intussusception.

Serum substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide levels in infants with acute intussusception

Objective

We aimed to investigate the role of the intestinal neurotransmitters vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) at different time points in infants with acute intussusception.

Methods

Thirty patients who were diagnosed with acute intussusception were enrolled in the study and classified as the experimental group. Another 30 patients with an indirect inguinal hernia who had no intestinal injury were included as the control group. Serum SP and VIP levels at different time points, including pre- and postoperation, were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared between the two groups.

Results

Serum SP levels in patients with acute intussusception were significantly higher than those in controls. However, with recovery of acute intussusception, SP levels gradually decreased after treatment. Serum VIP levels in patients with acute intussusception were significantly lower than those in controls. However, with recovery of acute intussusception, VIP levels gradually increased after treatment.

Conclusions

SP and VIP levels may have a potential relationship with the pathogenetic process of intussusception.

A case-control study of risk factors for intussusception among infants in eastern France after the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to investigate the risk factors for intussusception (IS) among infants, including vaccination against rotavirus.

METHODS

Case-control study with systematic inclusion of all infants aged <1 year with suspected IS admitted to emergency departments in the eastern region of France between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2012. All cases classed level 1 according to the Brighton classification were matched to 4 hospital controls. Two exposure windows were examined; exposure to the first dose of rotavirus vaccine in the 7 and in the 14 days prior to the occurrence of IS.

RESULTS

A total of 115 cases were matched with 457 controls. The average vaccination coverage rate over the 4 years of study was 8.6%. Rotavirus vaccine was not found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of IS in the 7 days (odds ratio (OR) not calculated; p = 0.99) and in the 14 days after administration of one dose vaccine (OR 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14-12.82). Infant formula alone or combined with breastfeeding was associated with an excess risk of IS (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.10-6.79). A history of gastroenteritis within 2 weeks prior to hospitalisation was also associated with an increased risk (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.07-4.67).

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that infant formula alone or combined with breastfeeding is a risk factor for IS. A small, non-significant increase in the risk of IS was observed after rotavirus vaccination, although the low vaccine coverage rate likely precluded detection of a significant increase in risk.

Identifying Predictive Factors for the Recurrence of Pediatric Intussusception

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to identify factors related to the recurrence of intussusception in pediatric patients.

METHODS

The medical charts of patients diagnosed with intussusception and treated at Dongsan Medical Center, between March 2015 to June 2017, were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Among 137 patients, 23 patients (16.8%) had a recurrent intussusception and 8 of these patients (6%) had more than 2 episodes of recurrence. The age at diagnosis was significantly different between the non-recurrence and recurrence group (p=0.026), with age >1 year at the time of diagnosis associated with a greater rate of recurrence (p=0.002). The time interval from symptom onset to the initial reduction (<48 vs. ≥48 hours) was significantly longer in the recurrence group (p=0.034) and patients in the recurrence group had higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (p=0.024). Bloody stools and a history of infection were significantly more frequent in the non-recurrence group (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). On stepwise regression analysis, age >1 year at the time of presentation (odds ratio [OR], 4.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56-14.06; p=0.016) and no history of infection (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.06-0.58; p=0.004) were retained as predictors of recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Patients with intussusception who are older than 1 year at diagnosis, have an elevated CRP level, a delay of ≥48 hours between symptom onset and the initial reduction, an absence of bloody stools, and no history of infection should be closely monitoring for symptoms and signs of a possible recurrence.

The incidence of negative intraoperative findings after unsuccessful hydrostatic reduction of ileocolic intussusception in children: A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of studies addressing the occurrence of negative intraoperative findings (that is the absence of intussusception) after an unsuccessful hydrostatic reduction of an ileocolic intussusception. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of negative intraoperative findings after unsuccessful hydrostatic reduction of ileocolic intussusception.

METHODS

We conducted a multicentre retrospective study of all children aged 0-18 years treated for ileocolic intussusception from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015 in 9 Dutch hospitals. Primary outcome measure was the percentage of children without an intussusception during surgical exploration after unsuccessful hydrostatic reduction.

RESULTS

In the study period 436 patients were diagnosed with an ileocolic intussusception. Of these, 408 patients underwent hydrostatic reduction of an ileocolic intussusception. 112 patients (27.5%) underwent surgery after an unsuccessful hydrostatic reduction. In 13 (11.6%) patients no intraoperative evidence of intussusception was found. Patients who underwent surgical intervention after unsuccessful hydrostatic reduction were significantly younger than patients who had a successful hydrostatic reduction; there was no gender difference.

CONCLUSION

A substantial number of children (11.6%) underwent a laparotomy after unsuccessful hydrostatic reduction in whom no intussusception was found intraoperatively. We suggest initiating laparoscopy instead of laparotomy when surgery is necessary.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

Intussusception Rate Among Under-Five-Children Before Introduction of Rotavirus Vaccine in North India

BACKGROUND

Baseline data on intussusception are needed to compare the intussusception rates following introduction of rotavirus vaccine.

METHODS

A hospital-based bidirectional surveillance (retrospective from 2009 to 2012; and prospective from 2013 to 2015) was set up in a tertiary care hospital in Chandigarh, India, to enrol children <5 years of age admitted with intussusception as per Brighton's classification, to estimate the hospital admission rate. Incidence of intussusception among infants and children <5 years of age was also estimated.

RESULTS

A total of 277 intussusception cases (96 retrospective; 181 prospective) were reported. Majority of cases were males (69.7%) and infants (72%). Median age at diagnosis was 10 months (interquartile range 6-12 months). Nearly 62% cases were treated surgically and 33% radiologically. Incidence was estimated to be 20/100 000 infants, and 5/100 000 children <5 years of age per year, in Chandigarh.

CONCLUSION

Intussusception surveillance system provided background hospital admission and incidence rate before rotavirus vaccine introduction in North India.

Incidence and epidemiology of intussusception among children under 2 years of age in Chenzhou and Kaifeng, China, 2009-2013

INTRODUCTION

In China, rotavirus is the leading cause of diarrhea hospitalizations among children aged <5 years. A locally manufactured rotavirus vaccine is available for private market use, but little is known about its coverage. Given the impending availability of newer rotavirus vaccines, we evaluated intussusception rates among children aged <2 years to better understand intussusception epidemiology for future vaccine safety monitoring.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review at 4 hospitals in Chenzhou City of Hunan Province and Kaifeng City of Henan Province. We identified intussusception cases admitted during 2009-2013 by reviewing medical records with the ICD-10 discharge code for intussusception and extracting demographic and clinical information from the electronic clinical record systems.

RESULTS

During 2009-2013, 1715 intussusception hospitalizations among 1,487,215 children aged <2 years occurred in both cities. The average annual intussusception hospitalization incidence was 112.9 per 100,000 children aged <2 years (181.8 per 100,000 children <1 year; 56 per 100,000 children 1 to <2 years). Intussusception incidence was low among infants aged <3 months and peaked at age 6-8 months. No clear seasonality was observed. Ultrasound was used to diagnose 95.9% of cases. Enema reduction was performed in 80% cases; 25% of cases in Chenzhou and 16% in Kaifeng required surgical intervention. No deaths were reported. The median time between symptom onset and admission was 1 day.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides information on intussusception incidence and epidemiology in two cities of China during 2009-2013. Monitoring intussusception rates in this population will be important in the post-rotavirus vaccine era.

Baseline incidence of intussusception in early childhood before rotavirus vaccine introduction, the Netherlands, January 2008 to December 2012

Intussusception is a rare, potentially life-threatening condition in early childhood. It gained attention due to an unexpected association with the first rotavirus vaccine, RotaShield, which was subsequently withdrawn from the market. Across Europe, broad variations in intussusception incidence rates have been reported. This study provides a first estimate of intussusception incidence in young children in the Netherlands from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2012, which could be used for future rotavirus safety monitoring. Our estimates are based on two different sources: electronic medical records from the primary healthcare database (IPCI), as well as administrative data from the Dutch hospital register (LBZ). The results from our study indicate a low rate of intussusception. Overall incidence rate in children < 36 months of age was 21.2 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI): 12.5–34.3) based on primary healthcare data and 22.6 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 20.9–24.4) based on hospital administrative data. The estimates suggest the upper and lower bound of the expected number of cases.

Potential of colonoscopy as a treatment for intussusception in children

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

 Invagination, which can occur in any part of the intestine, usually affects children and is the second most common cause of intestinal obstruction after pyloric stenosis. The cause of these intussusceptions in children is usually unknown and they typically occur within the ileocolic region. Management of pediatric patients with the condition often consists of surgical intervention. However, this retrospective study from the University Hospital of the University of São Paulo, Brazil, reports a series of cases of intussusception in children in whom a colonoscopy was used to reverse the intussusception.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

 From April 2010 to January 2015, 30 pediatric patients underwent a colonoscopy as an noninvasive method for treatment of children's intestinal intussusception.

RESULTS

 Overall, treatment with colonoscopy was successful in reversing invagination in 66.7 % of the patients. However, 33.3 % of patients required surgery to resolve the intussusception.

CONCLUSION

 Noninvasive colonoscopy is a potential treatment for intussusception in children.

Salmonella enteritis: A Rare Cause of Adult Intussusception

Intussusception is a relatively rare condition in the adult population and is commonly secondary to a malignant process. Eight to twenty percent of cases of adult intussusception are thought to be idiopathic. In children, infection has been proven to precipitate intussusception in the absence of any other cause. We present a rare case of intussusception in a healthy adult patient secondary to salmonella infection and discuss infection as a potential explanation for a proportion of the cases of adult intussusception that are thought to be idiopathic. We recommend testing for infective causes of intussusception in adults when more common causes, such as malignancy, have been excluded.

Intussusception-related Hospitalizations Among Infants Before and After Private Market Licensure of Rotavirus Vaccines in Taiwan, 2001-2013

INTRODUCTION

Rotavirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis among Taiwanese children. Two globally licensed rotavirus vaccines recommended for inclusion in routine immunization programs that have been available for private market use in Taiwan since 2006 have been associated with a low risk of intussusception in postmarketing studies conducted in several countries. Our objective was to examine trends and characteristics of intussusception hospitalizations in Taiwan among children <12 months of age before and after rotavirus vaccine licensure to provide updated baseline and early postlicensure data.

METHODS

We extracted data on intussusception-related hospitalizations among children <12 months of age during 2001-2013 from the National Health Insurance Research Database. We examined patient demographics, clinical outcome and hospitalization trends, focusing on recommended ages for rotavirus vaccination (6-14, 15-24 and 25-34 weeks). We compared mean hospitalization rates for prevaccine licensure years 2001-2005 with those for postvaccine licensure years 2007-2013 using Poisson regression analysis.

RESULTS

During 2001-2013, 1998 intussusceptions hospitalizations were recorded. The mean age of hospitalization was 33 weeks. Almost all children recovered; 3 deaths occurred. The overall intussusception hospitalization rate was 75.1 per 100,000; seasonality was not evident. Hospitalization rates were greatest in children ≥25 weeks of age and occurred more frequently in boys. Prevaccine and postvaccine licensure trends in annual hospitalization rates did not significantly differ. However, mean hospitalization rates were lower during the postvaccine licensure period for children <12 months of age (rate ratio: 0.84, 95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.92) with the greatest decline among children 25-34 weeks of age (rate ratio: 0.66, 95% confidence interval: 0.55-0.78).

CONCLUSIONS

Infant intussusception in Taiwan occurs at a rate within the range of other Asian countries is rare among children <3 months of age, has a male predominance and does not have a clear seasonality pattern. We did not observe a postlicensure increase in intussusception hospitalization rates in children 6-14 weeks of age.

Intussusception: past, present and future

Intussusception is a common etiology of acute abdominal pain in children. Over the last 70 years, there have been significant changes in how we diagnose and treat intussusception, with a more recent focus on the role of ultrasound. In this article we discuss historical and current approaches to intussusception, with an emphasis on ultrasound as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality.