Diagnosis and Management of Adult Intussusception

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In contrast to childhood intussusception, the clinical features in adults are not typical, and the incidence of adult intussusception is low. This study was to evaluate the clinical features, diagnosis, and management of adult intussusception. METHODS: Thirty-seven cases of adult intussusception occurring between 1981 and 1996 in individuals older than 16 were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: The most common age was in the 3rd decade (24.3%). Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, abdominal tenderness and palpable abdominal mass were common symptoms and physical findings in order of frequency. The duration of symptoms was less than 7 days in 54% of the cases. Correct preoperative diagnosis was made in 13.3% from 1981 to 1990 versus 72.7% from 1991 to 1996. This difference was caused by common use of abdominal ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) during recent years. On exploration there were 27 cases of enteric (73%) and 10 cases of colonic (27%) intussusceptions and there were underlying lesions in 30 cases (81%). Two manual reductions only, 7 manual reductions and resections, including one reoperation after manual reduction only, 28 resections without manual reduction, and 1 ileocolostomy were performed. While only 2 cases (7.4%) of malignancy were identified among the enteric intussusceptions, there were 7 cases (70%) of malignancy among the colonic intussusceptions. CONCLUSIONS: With the advance of abdominal US and CT, preoperative diagnosis of adult intussusception was not so difficult. Because of high prevalence of underlying lesions in adult intussusception, operative management is mandatory. Resection without reduction is the most common method of operation and is recommended in edematous and ischemic enteric intussusceptions and in all colonic intussusceptions which have high malignant rate.