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 Gong Hui
Pediatrics
1min 6sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of intussusception in children?

Intussusception in children is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in infants and toddlers, often seen in children aged four to ten months. The main clinical manifestations of pediatric intussusception are paroxysmal abdominal pain. Infants typically exhibit episodes of crying and fussiness, with pale complexion, cyanosis, and frequent vomiting. Prolonged intussusception may result in the passage of bloody stools, resembling jam. In these cases, it is imperative to seek medical attention at a hospital. During a physical examination, doctors can feel an abdominal mass. An abdominal ultrasound can be performed, where a circular mass may be visible, confirming the diagnosis. After diagnosis, pediatric intussusception requires surgical treatment. If the intussusception has not persisted for long, an air enema can be performed. If the intussusception has lasted longer and the general condition is poor, surgical intervention may be needed under aggressive treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
31sec home-news-image

Can infants with intussusception sleep?

Intussusception presents as abdominal pain, which occurs in sudden, severe, and periodic episodes. The child cries restlessly with a pale face, and the pain lasts several minutes or longer. The pain then subsides, and during this relief, the child falls asleep. The pain reoccurs every ten to twenty minutes. Continuous episodes occur until the intussusception is successfully reduced, after which the child calms down and falls asleep without further crying or vomiting.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Chang Yue
General Surgery
1min 9sec home-news-image

Why does intussusception cause bleeding?

Patients experience bleeding in cases of intussusception primarily because the segment of intestine that telescopes into another suffers from poor blood supply, or ischemia and hypoxia, ultimately leading to ischemic and hypoxic hemorrhagic changes in the intestinal wall. As a result, patients often exhibit symptoms such as bloody stools or stool that resembles jam. The occurrence of bleeding in intussusception generally indicates a relatively severe case. Treatment methods vary between adults and children. For children with intussusception, manual reduction or air or barium enema can be used to perform pressure reduction, allowing the intussusception to be treated conservatively without the need for surgical intervention. However, for adults, if bleeding is present, it indicates that the intussusception is severe and might be due to tumors or other space-occupying lesions, necessitating active surgical treatment. This approach is effective in stopping the bleeding and identifying the underlying cause of the condition.

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

Intestinal intussusception described by ultrasound.

The appearance of intussusception under ultrasound shows concentric or target ring-shaped mass images on a transverse section scan, and a sleeve sign on a longitudinal section scan. For an ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction, a balloon is inserted through the anus and inflated, connecting a T-tube to a Foley catheter with a side tube connected to a sphygmomanometer to monitor water pressure. Isotonic saline at a temperature of thirty to forty degrees is injected, and the target ring-shaped mass image can be seen retracting to the ileocecal region. The disappearance of the concentric circles or sleeve sign under ultrasound indicates the completion of this therapeutic diagnosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
38sec home-news-image

Symptoms of recurrent intussusception in children

5-8% of the children may experience recurrent intussusception. Enema reduction has a higher recurrence rate than surgical reduction. The manifestations of recurrence are similar to the initial episode, primarily presenting as abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody stools, or a palpable intussusceptum-like mass in the abdomen. The abdominal pain is mainly intermittent, and can last for several minutes or longer, accompanied by pale complexion. The vomitus may include curds or food residues, possibly containing bile; in later stages, it may resemble fecal matter. Bloody stools may appear as jelly-like mucoid blood.