Trapped in the Bowel

Intussusception in adults is a rare condition and is usually associated with organic disease. It has been implicated for 1% of all bowel obstructions. Clinical presentation can be non-specific and the rarity of the classic triad of abdominal pain, vomiting, and currant jelly stools contributes to late diagnosis and treatment. A 95-year-old lady presented to the emergency department for evaluation of nausea, vomiting, and a two-month history of intermittent diarrhea, which had been worsening for a few days prior to admission. On examination, the abdomen was soft but tender on deep palpation, with audible bowel sounds. No organomegaly or costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness was appreciated. CT abdomen revealed a long segment of the colon with a loop within loop appearance from the proximal transverse colon to the distal descending colon, consistent with intussusception. The patient was taken to the operating room where local exploration using laparoscopy revealed complete telescoping and intussusception of terminal ileum into the distended ascending and transverse colon and the patient underwent right hemicolectomy. The signs and symptoms of intussusception among the elderly are very non-specific and include nausea, vomiting, change in bowel habits, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Since the classic triad of symptoms (abdominal pain, vomiting, and currant jelly stools) is rarely observed, timely diagnosis and management become a challenge for clinicians. Literature suggests that up to 90% of adults with intussusception present with ongoing abdominal pain. Especially in outpatient settings, patients presenting with intermittent abdominal pain that resolves quickly with simple analgesia should be promptly evaluated. This case illustrates that the rarity of incidence and non-specific clinical presentation are potential barriers towards timely diagnosis and treatment of intussusception among adults, especially the elderly population. Keeping a low threshold for prompt evaluation using appropriate imaging modalities can help overcome this challenge and help reduce the surgical burden.