Can intussusception heal itself?

Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
Updated on September 02, 2024
00:00
00:00

Once intestinal intussusception occurs, only a small part can be spontaneously reduced. In most cases, urgent reduction treatment is required, including non-surgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatment mainly involves enema therapy. Within 48 hours of the intussusception, if the overall condition is good, the abdomen is not distended, and there are no obvious signs of dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, barium enema treatment can be applied. If the duration of the intussusception exceeds 48 to 72 hours, or if the condition is severe with intestinal necrosis or perforation, surgical treatment is necessary.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
55sec home-news-image

What tests need to be done for intussusception?

Intussusception is a common surgical disease in infants and young children, characterized clinically by crying, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, the passage of jelly-like stools, and vomiting. Auxiliary examinations for this condition primarily involve abdominal ultrasonography, though occasionally an abdominal X-ray can be performed. If a child experiences intussusception, treatment can vary depending on the severity; mild cases might be treated with an air enema. However, if the symptoms of intussusception are severe and prolonged, leading to ischemic necrosis of the intestines, surgical intervention is definitely required. In summary, the examination for intussusception primarily involves abdominal ultrasonography.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
43sec home-news-image

Pediatric intussusception should see which department?

Intussusception often occurs in infants and young children, so the main symptoms are vomiting, bloody stools, and abdominal pain. Therefore, the initial consultation is usually in pediatric emergency. When intussusception is suspected as a cause of acute abdomen, the doctor will conduct intestinal tube and abdominal ultrasound examinations. If the ultrasound confirms intussusception, a transfer to pediatric surgery or emergency surgery may be considered for appropriate surgical treatment. Thus, the initial choice for consultation is usually pediatrics, but after a diagnosis is confirmed, treatment should be transferred to pediatric surgery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
48sec home-news-image

Can intussusception pass gas?

Intussusception should be considered when the patient shows symptoms of intestinal obstruction, namely pain, vomiting, distension, and paralysis, along with cessation of gas and stool passing through the anus. In the early stages of intussusception, there may be a small amount of gas and stool passage, but the presence of intussusception should not be overlooked, and imaging studies can be performed for confirmation. If there is a fluid level in the intestinal lumen and clear signs of intestinal obstruction, and if the patient can feel a distinct mass in the abdomen, which on imaging shows concentric ring-like changes, intussusception should be considered. Once diagnosed, timely treatment is essential, thus treatment should not be delayed until there is an absence of stool and gas passage.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
49sec home-news-image

Caused by infantile intussusception

Intussusception is divided into primary and secondary types, with 95% being primary cases, most commonly seen in infants and young children. This is due to the fact that the mesentery of the ileocecal part in infants and young children is not yet fully fixed and has a greater degree of mobility, which are structural factors that facilitate the occurrence of intussusception. The remaining 5% are secondary cases generally occurring in older children, where the affected intestines often have a clear organic cause, such as a Meckel's diverticulum turning into the ileal lumen, serving as the starting point for intussusception. Other causes like intestinal polyps, tumors, duplications, or abdominal purpura can cause the intestinal wall to swell and thicken, which can also trigger intussusception.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
42sec home-news-image

Can intussusception heal itself?

Once intestinal intussusception occurs, only a small part can be spontaneously reduced. In most cases, urgent reduction treatment is required, including non-surgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatment mainly involves enema therapy. Within 48 hours of the intussusception, if the overall condition is good, the abdomen is not distended, and there are no obvious signs of dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, barium enema treatment can be applied. If the duration of the intussusception exceeds 48 to 72 hours, or if the condition is severe with intestinal necrosis or perforation, surgical treatment is necessary.