Intussusception in Children

Abstract Intussusception is one the most frequent causes of an acute abdomen in infancy and early childhood. It is a true emergency and affects mostly children at the age of 3 months to 2 years. Classical symptoms are intermittent abdominal pain, vomiting, and discharge of blood-tinged, raspberry jelly like stools. Ten percentages of patients present with a pathological lead point (Meckel's diverticulum, e.g.). The gold standard for diagnosis is the detection of the “target sign” by ultrasound. Treatment is usually nonoperative reducing the intussusception by a hydrostatic or pneumatic enema with success rates of up to 90%. Irreducible intussusception is treated by open or laparoscopic surgery.