Small bowel intussusception in children: single-centre observations

Aim: Small bowel intussusception is an increasingly prevalent condition reported in paediatric patients. The aims of the study were to characterise a group of patients with ultrasonographically confirmed intussusception, and review the therapeutic approach used in each case. Material and methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 40 children treated at a paediatric hospital who had been diagnosed with small bowel intussusception on the basis of ultrasound examination findings. Results: 80% of children had a single-site small bowel intussusception, and 20% of patients – a double-site intussusception or a small bowel intussusception coexisting with ileocaecal intussusception. The children presented with uncharacteristic symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever. The majority of cases (87.5%) were patients referred from the hospital accident and emergency department. More than half of the intussusceptions (55%) were found in children between 2 and 5 years of age, slightly more frequently in boys than in girls (22:18). Most of the intussusceptions (56%) were located in the middle abdomen. 66.6% of the intussusceptions were