Clinical features of transient small bowel intussusception in children

Purpose : We analyzed the clinical features management and outcome of small bowel intussusception in children compared with ileocolic intussusception. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the records of 210 children with documented intussusception in whom intus- susception was initially diagnosed by ultrasonography during the four-year period of 2002 to 2005. Results : A total of 191 children were diagnosed with ileocolic intussusception and 19 were diagnosed with small bowel intussusception. Children with small bowel intussusception were older than children with ileocolic intussusception (P<0.05. In comparison to patients with ileocolic intussusception the characteristic presenting symptoms- such as currant jelly stool and palpable mass- were rarely observed in patients with small bowel intussusception. In ileocolic intussusception air re- duction (92.2% or surgical reduction (7.3% was performed; however in small bowel intussusception spontaneous reduction (78.9% was observed and no surgical reduction was required in our study. Conclusion : Conservative management with close observation and follow-up sonographic evaluation rather than an immediate operation is recommended for children with small bowel intussusception. (Korean J Pediatr 2008;51: 500-