pediatrics
Intussusception
Introduction
Intussusception is telescoping of one portion of the intestine (intussusceptum) into an adjacent segment (intussuscipiens), causing intestinal obstruction and sometimes intestinal ischemia. Diagnosis is by ultrasonography. Treatment is with an air enema (for the most common type of intussusception, the ileocolic type) and sometimes surgery. Intussusception generally occurs between 6 months and 3 years of age, with most cases occurring before age 1 and 70% occurring before age 2 ( Reference ). It is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in this age group and occurs roughly equally in male and female children < 4 years of age. In children > 4 years of age, intussusception is much more common in males. The telescoping segment obstructs the intestine and, if not treated, ultimately impairs blood flow to the intussuscepting segment (see figure), causing ischemia, gangrene, and perforation. 