발병 초기에 진단하지 못한 장중첩증에 관한 고찰

목 적: 대부분의 소아과 의사들이 장중첩증의 진단이 지연되었을 경우의 문제점과 심각성을 알고 있음에도 불구하고 진단이 늦어져 수술, 심지어는 사망에 이르는 경우가 종종 발생한다. 따라서 저자들은 다른 진단명으로 입원하였다가 나중에 장중첩증으로 진단된 사례들을 조사하여 진단이 늦어지게 된 이유와 경과를 알아봄으로써 다시 한 번 의학적, 사회적 측면에서의 조기 진단의 중요성을 일깨우고자 하였다. 방 법: 저자들은 1990년 1월부터 2003년 12월까지 만 14년 간 경상대학교병원 응급실과 소아과에 장중첩증으로 내원하였던 환아들의 의무기록을 토대로 초기 진단이 장중첩증이 아니었던 경우의 14례의 증상과 첫 진단명, 진단되기까지의 경과 및 치료 결과를 조사하였다. Purpose: In this study, we tried to evaluate the clinical characteristics or circumstances that lead to unintentionally the delay in the diagnosis of intussusception or to the wrong direction that prevent the proper management early. Methods: All the patients of intussusception with delayed diagnosis in the department of pediatrics or emergency room at Gyeongsang National University Hospital from 1990 to 2003 were enrolled and reviewed retrospectively. Results: There were 8 boys and 6 girls and their median age was 8 months (range 2 months to 10 years). Their initial symptoms and signs were vomiting, seizure, diarrhea, lethargy, irritability, bloody stool, palpable abdominal mass, foul odor of urine and tachycardia. Clinical diagnosis or impressions at admission consisted of acute gastroenteritis, shigellosis and toxic encephalopathy, convulsive disorders, urinary tract infections, sepsis, abdominal mass and intestinal obstruction. Eight patients were luckily diagnosed due to the delayed manifestations of cyclic irritability or currant jelly stool. Six patients were not paid attentions for the possibilities of intussusception and diagnosed serendipitiously by the abdominal sonography or CT during the evaluation of the abdominal mass or distension. Only five of 14 cases (35.7%) were successfully managed by barium or air reductions. The other 9 cases needed surgical operations. Conclusion: Delayed diagnosis of intussusception arise when doctors initially diagnose the patients incorrectly due to the unusual presentations or when they overlook the newly arising symptoms or signs suggestive intussusception after the admission because they are ardently attached to the first impressions or initial clinical diagnosis. KCI Citation Count: 0