Can intussusception pass gas?

Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
Updated on February 16, 2025
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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.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Intussusception: How to Diagnose

Intussusception is one of the most common acute abdominal conditions in infants and toddlers, primarily seen in children under one year old. It refers to the condition where part of the intestine and its mesentery slip into an adjacent intestinal lumen, causing obstruction at the root of the intestine. The diagnosis of intussusception in children is mainly based on clinical symptoms. A previously healthy child may suddenly experience an episode of severe, regular, intermittent colicky pain. The child may appear restless, crying, with knees bent, a reduced amplitude of movement, and a pale complexion, with the abdominal pain easing after 10 to 20 minutes. The child may also vomit and pass bloody stools. Bloody stools are a very important symptom; approximately 85% of cases will pass jelly-like, mucousy bloody stools within 6 to 12 hours of onset, or even if there is no bloody stool visible, rectal examination can reveal its presence. A sausage-shaped mass can be felt in the abdomen. Furthermore, an ultrasound can show a typical image of a concentric circle or target-sign mass. Under ultrasound monitoring, procedures such as air or hydrostatic enema can be performed, which help in the early diagnosis of intussusception.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Can pediatric intussusception be cured?

Once intussusception occurs, only a small portion of the small intestinal intussusception can reduce on its own. Those occurring in the colon or where re-intussusception occurs generally cannot reduce spontaneously and require enema therapy or surgical treatment. Enema therapy refers to cases where the intussusception occurs within forty-eight hours, the overall condition is good, there is no abdominal distension, no obvious dehydration or electrolyte disorders, and air or barium enema can be used. If the condition persists for more than forty-eight hours, the overall condition is poor, with symptoms such as dehydration, lethargy, high fever, shock, significant abdominal distension, signs of peritoneal irritation, multiple occurrences of intussusception, prior organic changes, or situations requiring surgical treatment for small bowel intussusception.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of intussusception in infants

The clinical manifestations of intussusception mainly include abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody stools, and an abdominal mass. The abdominal pain is often spasmodic and regular, manifesting as sudden severe colicky pain. The child appears to be crying and restless, with knees drawn up to the abdomen, pale complexion, and the pain lasts for several minutes or longer but lessens after; it recurs every ten to twenty minutes, accompanied by intestinal movements. Vomiting is an early clinical symptom, initially consisting of milk curds or food residue, and later may include bile and fecal-like liquid. Bloody stool is an important symptom, appearing within the first few hours; initially, the stools can be normal, with about 85% of cases excreting jam-like mucoid bloody stools within six to twelve hours of onset. The abdominal mass is often located in the upper right abdomen below the costal margin, where a slight, tender mass can be palpated.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Is intestinal intussusception easy to treat?

Intussusception is a common pediatric surgical condition in infancy and early childhood. It is characterized clinically by abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and the passage of jelly-like stools. Mild cases of intussusception can usually be treated in a clinical setting with an air enema under surgical guidance. However, severe intussusception, which has led to ischemia or necrosis of the intestinal mucosa, must be treated surgically. Therefore, the treatment of intussusception is not difficult, but it is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis. With timely diagnosis, the condition is relatively easy to manage with the best and most appropriate treatment, where diagnosis is the most critical aspect.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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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.