Neonatal Intussusception: A Review

Abstract

Intussusception is defined as a process in which a segment of bowel invaginates into the adjoining intestinal lumen, causing bowel obstruction. It is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in infants and children between 6 months to 18 months of age. In neonates and premature infants, it accounts for only 3% of intestinal obstruction and 0.3% (0-2.7%) of all cases of intussusception Since neonatal intussusception is an uncommon entity, we conducted this review to examine its occurrence, clinical features, diagnostic modalities, and treatment options.

Update on the global epidemiology of intussusception: a systematic review of incidence rates, age distributions and case-fatality ratios among children aged <5 years, before the introduction of rotavirus vaccination

“…Several datasets reported a suspiciously high number in this age group, which may be related to errors in the recording of the date of birth/admission or errors in the diagnosis. For example, necrotizing enterocolitis and other neonatal congenital problems may be misdiagnosed as intussusception 39 …”

Jejunojejunal Intussusception at Birth

“…[ 3 ] Most of the reported cases of neonatal intussusception are diagnosed after 5 days of age, and the mean duration from time of onset of symptom to surgery has been reported to range between 10 and 19 days. [ 4 5 6 ] This delay in surgery is due to suspicion of diseases such as NEC, sepsis, or meconium plug syndrome. Babies are fairly stable with no abdominal distension, mass per abdomen, or pain till the stage of perforation in intussusception, and hence, conservative management is often instituted for long time before deciding on surgery.…”

“…This stresses the need for early use of ultrasonography, which is useful in diagnosing intussusception in neonates. [ 1 4 6 ] This investigation tool is often used to rule out anomalies in cases of intestinal obstruction, and awareness of intussusception in the neonatal age should help in making early diagnosis.…”

Multiple ileo-ileal intussusception associated with duodenal atresia in a 5-day-old infant: case report

“…Intussusception is the invagination of one part of the intestine into another. It is the most frequent cause of intestinal obstruction among infants and toddlers between 6 and 18 months of age [1][2][3]. This illness contributes to only 3% of intestinal obstruction in neonates and premature infants [3].…”

“…It is the most frequent cause of intestinal obstruction among infants and toddlers between 6 and 18 months of age [1][2][3]. This illness contributes to only 3% of intestinal obstruction in neonates and premature infants [3]. Most of the pediatric cases are ileo-cecal, while jejuno-jejunal and ileo-ileal combined contribute only 2.5% of the cases [2].…”