A Clinical Analysis of Intussusception in Infants and Children

ABSTRACT

This article consists of a clinical analysis of 171 cases of intussusception treated at the Department of General Surgery and Pediatrics of Pusan Adventist Hospital, during a five year period from Jan. 1991 to Dec. 1995. The results were as follows ; 1) On the age and sex distribution, the age incidence under 1 year old was the most common(73.1%), and male to female ratio was 1.48 : 1. 2) The seasonal variation was Autumn(35.1%), Spring(32.1%), Summer(19.9%), and Winter(12.9%). 3) On the hematologic laboratory finding, 68% were revealed leukocytosis above 10,000/mm3 in serum. 4) In etiology, idiopathic type was common(98.5%), and Meckel's diverticulum was rare(1.5%). 5) The frequent Symptoms and signs were abdominal pain and irritability(84.2%), bloody stool(83.6%), vomiting(80.7%), palpable abdominal mass(48.5%). 6) On comparison of barium reduction to methods of the operation in relation to duration of symptoms, within 12 hours was 81.4% : 15.7% and above 24 hours was 49% : 51% 7) The common anatomical type of intussusception was ileo-colic type (36.9%), and the common types of bowel resection were ileoileo type and ileoileocolic type(80%). 8) The methods of the operation were manual reduction(53.8%), bowel resection(30.8%), and spontaneous reduction(15.4%). 9) Postoperative complications occurred in 10 cases ; febrile convulsion 3 cases, wound infection 2 cases, and wound dehiscence, intestinal obstruction, pulmonary complication each 1 case. 10) The overall recurrence rate was 5.3% (8 cases); 6.6% (7 cases) were after barium reduction, and 1.5% (1 case) was after manual reduction.