Intussusception is defined as a segment of the intestinal canal that is trapped in the lumen of the adjacent distal intestine. It is classified as ileocolic, ileocecal, ileo-ileal, small bowel, colonic, and polycystic. The first four clinical conditions are most common, especially ileocolic and ileo-ileocolic intussusception.
It is common in infants under 2 years of age, especially in infants aged 4 to 10 months. Boys are 2 to 3 times more common than girls. The higher incidence in spring and autumn is probably related to the higher incidence of upper respiratory tract inflammation and adenovirus infection in children during this period. The latest statistics do not seem to be related to the season, as the incidence is not very different throughout the year.
The etiology of intussusception and its pathogenesis are still not fully understood. It is generally divided into two types: primary and secondary. The vast majority of pediatric intussusceptions are primary, meaning that no obvious precipitating factors can be found. In the minority of secondary cases, most of them are due to intestinal diverticula, intestinal polyps, tumors, and intestinal wall hematoma of abdominal purpura. Regarding the triggering factors, most of them are thought to be due to disturbance of the normal rhythm of intestinal peristalsis. Many scholars believe that intussusception is related to viral infection, and it has been proved that lymphatic follicles in the wall of the ileum of children with intussusception often proliferate.
The typical symptoms of intussusception are paroxysmal crying and jam-colored stools.
Once formed, intussusception rarely resets spontaneously, and in severe advanced cases, it can even prolapse from the anus. Intestinal obstruction in intussusception is mainly due to the contraction of the sheath, especially the neck, which blocks the intestinal lumen by compressing the sheath, causing the blood circulation to be impaired.
If the onset of intussusception does not exceed 24 hours, air enema treatment is preferred. The success rate of air enema treatment for intussusception is about 90%. If the enema is successful, the child will not have any sequelae after recovery.
Because the causes and mechanisms of intussusception are not fully understood, there is no need to deliberately try to do anything to prevent the recurrence of intussusception.