Can you drink water with intussusception?

Written by Li Chang Yue
General Surgery
Updated on December 02, 2024
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Patients with intestinal intussusception should avoid drinking water as much as possible. Once intussusception occurs, it can lead to a complete intestinal obstruction. Drinking water at this time can easily increase the burden on the intestines, causing nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and a series of other problems. For patients with intestinal intussusception, an emergency intestinal barium air pressure procedure can be performed to reposition the intestines. If this fails, surgical treatment should be pursued actively. Currently, patients with intussusception can be treated with traditional open surgery to release the intussusception, or using laparoscopic interventions to resolve it. Both types of surgery are very effective in treating intussusception and typically have satisfactory outcomes.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Early symptoms of intussusception in children

Intussusception in children refers to a segment of the intestine telescoping into the adjoining lumen, causing an obstruction to the passage of intestinal contents. Intussusception accounts for 15%-20% of intestinal obstructions and can be primary or secondary. Generally, primary intussusception is more common in infants and young children. Early symptoms may include bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, possibly accompanied by bloody stools, and a palpable mass in the abdomen. Moreover, intussusception can occur in multiple locations, such as jejunum into jejunum, jejunum into ileum, ileum into ileum, ileum into cecum, ileum into colon, colon into colon, etc. Among these, ileo-cecal intussusception is the most common, while small intestine into small intestine and colon into colon are relatively rare.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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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.

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Written by Li Chang Yue
General Surgery
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Can you drink water with intussusception?

Patients with intestinal intussusception should avoid drinking water as much as possible. Once intussusception occurs, it can lead to a complete intestinal obstruction. Drinking water at this time can easily increase the burden on the intestines, causing nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and a series of other problems. For patients with intestinal intussusception, an emergency intestinal barium air pressure procedure can be performed to reposition the intestines. If this fails, surgical treatment should be pursued actively. Currently, patients with intussusception can be treated with traditional open surgery to release the intussusception, or using laparoscopic interventions to resolve it. Both types of surgery are very effective in treating intussusception and typically have satisfactory outcomes.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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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.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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How to treat intussusception in children?

Intussusception is a life-threatening emergency that requires urgent reduction once diagnosed. Reduction methods include non-surgical and surgical therapies. Within forty-eight hours of intussusception, if the overall condition is good, there is no abdominal distension, and no significant dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, reduction can be attempted under ultrasound guidance using hydrostatic enema, air enema, or barium enema. If the intussusception has lasted beyond forty-eight to seventy-two hours, or if there is severe abdominal distention, intestinal necrosis, or perforation, surgical treatment is necessary.