Does infant intussusception require surgery?

Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
Updated on February 23, 2025
00:00
00:00

Intussusception lasting between forty-eight and seventy-two hours, or if the duration is shorter but the condition is severe, including cases with intestinal necrosis or perforation, as well as those involving small intestine type intussusception, all require surgical treatment. Depending on the overall condition of the child and the pathological changes in the intussuscepted bowel, options include reduction of intussusception, intestinal resection and anastomosis, or enterostomy, etc.

Other Voices

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 Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
46sec home-news-image

Symptoms of intussusception in babies

Intussusception in infants initially manifests as vomiting, including the contents of the stomach and sometimes even a coffee-colored liquid. Subsequently, the infant may appear inconsolably fussy and experience abdominal pain, which is communicated through crying, as infants are unable to speak. Additionally, the stool may appear like jam or contain pus and blood, which is due to bleeding from the intestinal mucosa and intestinal tubes. Upon observing these symptoms, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly and conduct further examinations at a hospital, such as an abdominal ultrasound and an upright abdominal X-ray, to confirm the diagnosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
41sec home-news-image

Does intussusception require a CT scan?

Intussusception is commonly diagnosed through routine abdominal ultrasound examinations, which have a positive rate of over 90%. In the ultrasound, the transverse section of the intussusception can show concentric circles or target ring-shaped mass images, and the longitudinal section may reveal the sleeve sign. Additionally, a barium enema can be employed, along with X-ray imaging. Under X-ray, the lead point of intussusception appears as a mass shadow, and air enema reduction treatment can be performed concurrently. Generally, CT is not used as a routine diagnostic tool.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
50sec home-news-image

How to treat intussusception in children?

Intussusception in children is a common surgical condition. The treatment approach depends on the severity of the child's clinical symptoms. If the intestines have not been telescoped for long, and the intestinal mucosa has not suffered ischemic necrosis, and if the clinical symptoms are mild, air enema can be used to relieve the intussusception without the need for surgery. However, if the clinical symptoms are severe and necrosis has been prolonged, meaning the intestinal mucosa has reached a state of ischemia and necrosis that is irreparable, surgical treatment in a surgical setting is definitely required. Whether surgery or air enema is needed should be decided based on the actual color ultrasound results and a comprehensive diagnosis by the clinician.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming
General Surgery
37sec home-news-image

Can intussusception in the elderly be cured?

Intussusception in the elderly rarely heals on its own, and the likelihood of recovery without treatment is very small. This is because the causes of intestinal issues in the elderly are primarily benign, often due to cirrhosis or other reasons. Furthermore, intussusception may also occur due to tumors, which generally require surgical treatment. It is advised that if diagnosed with intussusception, it is best to undergo surgical treatment at a hospital to prevent recurrence. If it is due to a tumor, there is a risk of it becoming malignant and metastasizing.