Author(s): Kwanhathai Sakulsansern
Background: Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in early childhood. It is an emergent condition where delay in diagnosis leads to an increased risk of bowel perforation and necrosis. Numerous reduction techniques have been described. Safety has to be of prime concern and we strongly believe the air enema technique to be quicker, safer and more effective than liquid enemas. Reduction of intussusception with unsedated child may resist the procedure, which may lengthen its duration and increase the radiation dose. We use intravenous IV sedation during the procedure to overcome these difficulties.
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of our technique for pneumatic reduction under fluoroscopic guidance with IV sedation, using equipment readily available in the hospital, and to study association between the time spent at outside community hospitals prior to transfer and the surgical treatment.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases of pediatric intussusception, from October of 2013 through June of 2020.
Results: A total of 65 patients (35 male, 30 female) with intussusception were treated. Our pneumatic reduction technique was performed in 36 patients, among which 33 (91.67%) cases were successful. No complications occurred. Patients requiring surgery had presented the longer outside community hospital admission length of time.
Conclusion: The technique described is easy to assemble, safe, fast and effective. The surgical morbidity was low in those who were diagnosis early and timely transfer to our center.
