Yield of abdominal radiographs in children with suspected intussusception; rate of pneumoperitoneum and other abdominal pathology

Ultrasound is the criterion standard imaging modality for the diagnosis of intussusception. However, to our knowledge the utility of abdominal radiographs to concurrently screen for pneumoperitoneum or other abdominal pathology that could have a similar presentation has not been studied. Our institutional protocol requires the performance of AP supine and left lateral decubitus views of the abdomen prior to ultrasound evaluation for intussusception, providing an opportunity to examine the yield of abdominal radiographs in this setting. Our primary objective was to determine the rate of pneumoperitoneum on screening abdominal radiographs in children undergoing evaluation for intussusception. Our secondary objective was to determine the rate that other clinically significant pathology is found on these screening abdominal radiographs. We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients under 6 years of age who had any imaging ordered in our large urban pediatric emergency department to evaluate for suspected intussusception during the calendar years 2018–2020. 1115 patient encounters met our inclusion criteria. Among 1090 who had screening abdominal radiographs, 82 (8%) had findings concerning for intussusception. Of those not concerning for intussusception, 635 (58%) were read as normal, 263 (24%) showed moderate to large stool burden, 107 (10%) showed generalized bowel distention, and 22 (2%) showed abnormal gastric distention. Individually the remainder of all other findings compromised