Intussusception

The bowel 'invaginates' or 'telescopes' into itself, narrowing the lumen, which results in a palpable mass in the abdomen and obstruction to the passage of faeces through the bowel

Clinical presentation

Symptoms

  • Severe, colicky abdominal pain
  • Pale, lethargic and unwell child
  • Vomiting

Signs

  • Signs of dehydration
  • 'Redcurrant jelly stool'
  • Right upper quadrant mass on palpation
  • Can be associated with concurrent viral illness

Investigations

  • USS - target sign
notion image

Management

  • Air reduction - relieves obstruction in >85% of cases
  • Surgical reduction if non-invasive measures fail