Presentation, aetiology and treatment of adult intussusception in a tertiary Sub-Saharan hospital: a 10-year retrospective study

Case Report: A Closed Loop Obstruction Secondary to Idiopathic Small Bowel Intussusception in an Elderly Woman

Intussusception is primarily a disease of children and is the primary cause of intestinal obstruction in the pediatric age group. It accounts for around 5-16% of cases of intestinal obstruction in adults of the western population. Most cases of adult intussusception (up to 90%) are secondary to an identified structural lesion or a lead point contrary to pediatric intussusception. Adults with intussusception present with subacute or chronic symptoms of partial obstruction. CT is the best imaging to make a preoperative diagnosis of adult intussusception. The standard treatment for adult intussusception is surgery, and non-operative reduction should not be attempted. Here, we present a rare case of idiopathic small bowel intussusception in a 50-year-old woman. She presented with crampy abdominal pain for one-week duration. It was associated with frequent vomiting of bilious matter. She claimed to have had similar symptoms for the past 2 months and had repeatedly visited nearby health facilities. She had an abdominal CT, which suggested a complicated small bowel intussusception. Exploratory laparotomy was done, and there was a small bowel intussusception and an inflammatory stricture at the end of the intussusceptum, which is believed to form a closed-loop like obstruction. The intussusceptum was resected en-bloc then end-to-end jejuno-jejunal anastomosis was performed. This case report makes physicians aware of this rare condition in adults. So that they have a high index of suspicion when a patient presents with symptoms of subacute or chronic intestinal obstruction and inform that abdominal CT should be done in these circumstances and surgery is the mainstay of treatment. Our case is unique, and there is no report in the literature similar to ours.

Intussusception of the cecum due to the acute appendicitis: A case report

Introduction and importance

Intussusception of the cecum due to acute appendicitis is rare condition.

Presentation of case

A 17-year-old male patient presented to our hospital with a chief complaint of right lower abdominal pain, which had lasted for two days. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a “target sign” from the cecum to the ascending colon, leading to a diagnosis of cecocolic intussusception. Colonoscopy revealed an erythematous, edematous, and internally distorted cecum in the ascending colon, which was difficult to repair with air insufflation. Laparoscopic surgery was performed to remove the bowel obstruction. Repositioning of the invaginated cecum was difficult due to the presence of a hard and edematous colic wall. Therefore, laparoscopic ileocecal resection was performed to release the obstruction. The pathological diagnosis was appendicitis and abscess within the cecum wall, with no malignant findings.

Discussion

In our case, intussusception was considered to have caused thickening of the intestinal wall of the cecum due to inflammation of the appendix, and the thickened area became the leading point.

Conclusion

Considering that malignancy is a frequent leading point in adult patients with intussusception, a preoperative endoscopic examination is important for minimizing bowel resection.

•

Most cases of intussusception outside of childhood are caused by tumors, but inflammation of the appendix or cecum can be a cause.

•

If malignancy is not the cause of intussusception, bowel resection can be minimized.

•

In order to determine the appropriate extent of resection, an accurate preoperative diagnosis is necessary, keeping in mind the possibility that appendicitis or inflammatory changes in the cecum may be the leading point.

Intussusception in the Setting of an Ulcerative Colitis Flare

Intussusception is an extraordinary cause of acute abdomen in adults and has been defined as the telescoping of a bowel segment into the lumen of an adjacent segment. A 43-year-old female presented to our hospital's emergency department (ED) with 10+ episodes of bloody diarrhea per day, left-sided abdominal pain, and the inability to tolerate oral intake for one month. She was initially diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) ten years ago and is currently on mesalamine oral and enema therapy. She presented to our gastroenterology clinic two weeks after the beginning of her flare and was started on prednisone 40 mg daily. This did not improve her symptoms, and she presented to the ED two weeks later. She underwent a computed tomography (CT) abdomen/pelvis which revealed intussusception in the left hemiabdomen with no definite lead point measuring 5.6 cm in the craniocaudal dimension with pneumatosis and no evidence of bowel obstruction. There were no other significant laboratory abnormalities. Acute care surgery was consulted and suggested obtaining a CT enterography for further evaluation which showed spontaneous resolution of intussusception with no evidence of pneumatosis, portal venous gas, or intraperitoneal free air. She reports that following oral contrast intake, she "felt movement and relaxation" in her abdomen with substantial pain relief. Infectious workup was negative, and therapy was initiated with intravenous steroids. In conclusion, intussusception has been very rarely reported in patients with UC with the most common treatment being surgical resection. However, conservative management in the absence of bowel obstruction can be attempted.

Intussusception in Adults: A Retrospective Review from a Single Institution

Purpose

Intussusception is uncommon in adults and often manifests as nonspecific symptoms. Owing to its low incidence and the lack of knowledge on the symptoms, causes, and treatment of adult intussusception (AI), many surgeons may have limited experience in the diagnosis and treatment of intussusception. This study aimed to describe the experience of AI and discuss its clinical presentation, etiology, and management.

Material and Methods

I retrospectively reviewed patients aged 19 years and older who were diagnosed with intussusception at a single institution between March 2010 and December 2019.

Results

Among 28 patients who were finally analyzed, abdominal pain was the most commonly observed symptom. Ileocolic and ileoileal intussusceptions were the most common locations, and a lead point was observed in 19 cases (68%), of which malignancy was observed in six (21%). Bowel resection was performed in 27 cases. According to the pathological findings of the tissue from the resected section, nine and three cases of small bowel intussusception (SBI) were benign and malignant, respectively, whereas 13 and three cases of colonic intussusception (CI) were benign and malignant, respectively. On comparing SBI and CI, it was observed that most variables did not significantly differ, except for the duration of symptoms.

Conclusion

SBI had a higher lead point than CI. The rate of malignancy in CI cases in this study was lower than that reported in other studies. En-bloc resection can be considered the first option for the treatment of AI.

Adult Intussusception: An Uncommon Condition and Challenging Management

INTRODUCTION

Intussusception is a rare condition in adults. A pathological lesion is usually found with a significant percentage of malignancy. The optimal treatment is still not universally clear.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of adult patients with a diagnosis of intestinal intussusception and surgically treated at our institution from January 2009 to December 2018. Clinical, operative, and histological details were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 26 cases, 16 males and 10 females, were diagnosed with surgically proven intussusception during the 10-year period. The mean age was 45 years (range 21-70). Using ultrasound and/or computed tomography as imaging study, the preoperative diagnosis was made in 21/26 (81%) patients. Five intussusceptions were discovered only upon exploratory laparotomy for intestinal obstruction. There were 19 (73%) cases of enteric and 7 (27%) cases of colonic intussusceptions. All patients underwent surgical exploration. Intestinal resection with immediate anastomosis was the technique of choice for most patients. A single patient underwent stoma for peritonitis secondary to intestinal perforation. An organic cause has been systematically revealed, and no idiopathic intussusception was detected. Etiology was malignant in 9 (35%) cases.

CONCLUSION

Adult intussusception should be considered in any patient with subacute abdominal pain. Considering the high rate of malignancy, intestinal resection without attempting reduction is highly recommended for colonic intussusceptions. However, a more selective approach can be adopted for enteric intussusceptions.

Use of Ultrasound in the Diagnostic Work-Up of Adult Intussusception - A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis

PURPOSE

 To evaluate the use of ultrasound (US) in the diagnostic work-up of adult intussusception (AI).

METHODS

 This multicenter study includes 26 consecutive patients diagnosed with AI between January 2010 and November 2017. A retrospective chart analysis was conducted with a focus on abdominal US findings and diagnostic accuracy of different imaging modalities (ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging). If available, surgical and pathological findings served as the gold standard (76.9 %). US examiners certified according to DEGUM grade 2 or 3 were classified as experts. Otherwise, they were regarded to have basic skills.

RESULTS

 During diagnostic work-up, 92.3 % underwent abdominal US. US was the first-line imaging modality in 88.5 % of cases. The accuracy regarding the detection of AI (85 %), correct localization (95 %) and detection of complications (100 %) was excellent and comparable with CT (81 %, 90.5 %, and 91.7 %) when performed by experts. 72.7 % of tumorous lead points were detected by experienced examiners. In contrast, AI was detected in only 45.5 % of cases by examiners with basic skills. AI was diagnosed prior to surgery in all patients.

CONCLUSION

 US is reliable in the diagnostic work-up of AI when performed by experienced examiners with high-quality equipment. US, CT and MRI should be used in a complementary fashion since combination provides excellent sensitivity regarding the detection and correct localization of AI as well as the detection of complications. The impact of real-time imaging is illustrated by supplementary videos.

An appraisal of the presentation and management of adult intussusception at a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Background

Intussusception in adults is considered rare in surgical practice. It is the causative lesion in a small proportion of cases of intestinal obstruction and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. In the last decade, the incidence of adult intussusception appears to be increasing at our centre.

Aims

This study aims to document the pattern of presentation and management outcome of adult intussusception at our institution during the last decade. We also observed the occurring trends of this lesion.

Patients and Methods

This was a 10-year retrospective study of consecutive adult patients with intussusception seen at our institution from July 2008 to June 2018. Information on biodata, clinicopathological features and management outcome retrieved from case notes and pathology records were analysed on a personal computer using SPSS version 23.

Results

Twenty adult patients who had intussusception were seen during this period. There were 9 (45%) males and 11 (55%) females giving a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.2. The mean age of presentation was 45 (range 18-66) years. Clinical features were abdominal pain (85%), abdominal distension (80%), vomiting (70%), rectal bleeding (70%) and palpable abdominal mass (35%). Majority of patients (70%) presented with features of intestinal obstruction. Idiopathic intussusception (55%) accounted for more than half of the cases with the jejunoileal variety (30%) as the most common pathological type. One patient who had intussusception in the postoperative period was treated with manual reduction at laparotomy. Bowel resections were performed in the remaining 19 (95%) patients.

Conclusion

Adult intussusception is still uncommon in our general surgical practice. Bowel resection is the mainstay of treatment.

A rare cause of obstructive defecation in a 29-year-old woman: Ileo-colo-colonic intussusception treated by subtotal colectomy with posterior rectopexy

Adult intussusception is a rare clinical condition. In majority of adult cases, there is an underlying cause such as polyps or colon cancers. In the present study, a 29-year-old woman with intermittent and colicky abdominal pain, constipation, and painful defecation, accompanied with distention and sense of rectal fullness, was evaluated with computed tomography. Ileo-colo-colic intussusception was determined. Subtotal colectomy with posterior rectopexy was performed. After the surgery, she was doing well at 13-month follow-up.

PNEUMATIC REDUCTION OF INTUSSUSCEPTION IN CHILDREN: EXPERIENCE AND ANALYSIS OF OUTCOME AT JUTH, JOS, A TERTIARY HEALTH CENTRE IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

CONTEXT

Intussusception is a common childhood abdominal surgical emergency worldwide resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality if not promptly treated. Ultrasound-guided pneumatic reduction has been proven to be the most reliable and successful non-operative management option with the least complication rate.

AIMS

To evaluate our local experience with the ultrasound-confirmed pneumatic reduction of childhood intussusception and to determine factors that predict successful outcome.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A retrospective study of children less than 2 years old who presented to our facility with uncomplicated idiopathic intussusceptions between June, 2012 and June, 2017.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography. Pneumatic reduction with a locally assembled equipment was performed on selected and resuscitated patients; abdominal ultrasound scan was then performed to confirm successful reduction. The procedure was considered to have failed if unsuccessful after the third attempt. Laparotomy was performed on patients with failed procedure.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24 was used for data analysis. Categorical variables were compared using Fisher exact test (with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals where appropriate) and numeric variables compared using the student t-test. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05.

RESULTS

Twenty five out of 36 children with intussusception were selected for the procedure with M:F ratio 1.8:1 and a mean age of 7.08 (SD 4.18) months. Only 9 (36%) presented early (ie within 24 hours). While non-bilious vomiting was the commonest symptom, blood-stained finger on rectal examination was the commonest sign in the patients. The overall success rate was 60% (15 patients). Early presentation accounted for only 5 (33%) of successful procedures. The presence of an abdominal mass was associated with increased likelihood of success (OR 9.75,[95% CI [1.38-68.78], p≥0.022), while the presence of a rectal mass was associated with a reduced likelihood of success (OR 0.16 95%CI [0.026-0.917], p≥0.042 ). Age, sex, and duration of symptoms before presentation did not influence outcome. Early presentation was however significantly associated with success at first attempt, compared to late presentation, in those with successful outcomes. Recurrence was observed in one (6.7%) of the successful cases. The mean duration of hospital stay in those that had successful outcome, 3.4(SD1.0) days was significantly shorter than that for those who had laparotomy for failed reduction, 8.0(SD3.1) days (p<0.001). There was no bowel perforation and no mortality recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

The successful pneumatic reduction rate was 60%. The major predictors of success in this study were the presence of abdominal mass and the absence of intussusception apex in the rectum. Early presentation was significantly associated with success at first attempt, compared to late presentation, in those with successful outcomes. There was no bowel perforation or mortality. Ultrasound-confirmed pneumatic reduction of intussusception is a simple, easy, safe and effective non-operative management of uncomplicated intussusception in well selected children in our environment.

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by adult intussusception secondary to small intestinal tumors: Two case reports

RATIONALE

Adult intussusception is rarely observed, and the clinical manifestations are very atypical. The most common symptom is abdominal pain, while the incidence of hematochezia is relatively low. We report two cases of adult intussusception secondary to small intestinal tumors with gastrointestinal hemorrhage as the main symptom.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Two men aged 19 and 54 years were successively referred to our department due to intermittent hematochezia. The hemoglobin levels of the two patients declined progressively, and conservative treatment was ineffective.

DIAGNOSES

The first patient underwent an abdominal computed tomography angiography examination, which showed that the intestine and its mesentery were tortuous, suggesting an intra-abdominal hernia or intussusception. The second patient underwent an abdominal computed tomography examination, which suggested a high possibility of an intussusception. The two patients were diagnosed as adult intussusception caused by small intestinal tumors.

INTERVENTIONS

Emergency laparoscopic explorations were performed. Enteroenteric intussusceptions caused by ileal tumors were found during surgery. Reduction of the intussusceptions and resection of the ileal tumors were performed.

OUTCOMES

The patients recovered well after surgery, and postoperative pathology showed that the tumors were a vascular hamartoma polyp and a lipoma.

LESSONS

Adult intussusception is very rare, particularly with gastrointestinal hemorrhage as the main symptom. Isolated hamartoma polyp is a rare cause of intussusception in adults. The clinical manifestations of adult intussusception are very atypical, and thus, making a preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Abdominal CT or CTA is an effective diagnostic method for adult intussusception. For adult patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by intussusceptions, active surgery should be performed when conservative treatment is not effective. Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective treatment for adult intussusceptions caused by benign diseases.

Adult intussusception: A case series and review

AIM

To identify factors differentiating pathologic adult intussusception (AI) from benign causes and the need for an operative intervention. Current evidence available from the literature is discussed.

METHODS

This is a case series of eleven patients over the age of 18 and a surgical consultation for “Intussusception” at a single veteran’s hospital over a five-year period (2011-2016). AI was diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) scan and or flexible endoscopy (colonoscopy). Surgical referrals were from the emergency room, endoscopy suites and the radiologists.

RESULTS

A total of 11 cases, 9 males and 2 females were diagnosed with AI. Median age was 58 years. Abdominal pain and change in bowel habits were most common symptoms. CT scan and or colonoscopy diagnosed AI, in ten/eleven (90%) patients. There were 6 small bowel-small bowel, 4 ileocecal, and 1 sigmoid-rectal AI. 8 patients (72%) needed an operation. Bowel resection was required and definitive pathology was diagnosed in 7 patients (63%). Five patients had malignant and 2 patients had benign etiology. Small bowel enteroscopy excluded pathology in 4 cases (37%) with AI. Younger patients tend to have a benign diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Majority of AI have malignant etiology however idiopathic intussusception is being seen more frequently. Operative intervention remains the mainstay however, certain small bowel intussusception especially in younger patients may be a benign, physiological, transient phenomenon and laparoscopy with reduction or watchful waiting may be an acceptable strategy. These patients should undergo endoscopic or capsule endoscopy to exclude intrinsic luminal lesions.

Factors predicting malignancy in adult intussusception: An experience in university-affiliated hospitals

BACKGROUND

Intussusception is one of the common causes of intestinal obstruction in children but is uncommon in adults. Unlike pediatric intussusception, most adult cases have a demonstrable etiology. The purpose of this study was to review our experience of adult intussusception and to identify the predictive factors for malignancy in this disease.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with intussusception and admitted to the six Hallym University-affiliated hospitals between January 2005 and July 2016.

RESULTS

The 77 patients had a mean age of 50.5 years (range, 18-91 years). Enteric intussusception is the most common type of adult intussusception (33.7%), and 11 patients (14.2%) had no definite lesion at operation. The most common symptom was abdominal pain (90.9%), and 18 (23.3%) presented with chronic symptoms. Computed tomography was the most common diagnostic modality used, with a diagnostic accuracy of 96.9%. The leading point was identified in 62 (80.5%) patients. Malignancy was more frequently present in the colonic type than in the other two types (61.5% vs. 10%, 37.9%). In a multivariate analysis, chronic symptom >14 days (p = 0.031) and colonic intussusception (p = 0.026) were independent predictors for malignancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Enteric intussusception is the most common type of adult intussusception, and the most common test is computed tomography. Because chronic symptoms and colonic-type intussusception were predictive factors for malignancy, en bloc resection should be considered in patients with chronic or colonic intussusception.

Small intestine and ovarian metastasis in a patient with a history of cardiac fibrosacoma

Metastatic tumors involving the small bowel are much more common than primary neoplasms. The most common metastases to the small intestine are those arising from other intra-abdominal organs. Metastases from extra-abdominal tumors are rare but may be found in patients with adenocarcinoma of the breast and carcinoma of the lung. Cutaneous melanoma is the most common extra-abdominal source involving the small intestine, with involvement of the small intestine noted in more than half of the patients dying from malignant melanoma [1]. While intestinal metastasis from sarcoma has been described, this is an extremely rare occurrence especially from a rare malignant sarcoma of cardiac origin. The dismal prognosis of cardiac sarcomas results from extensive local invasion at presentation or distant metastasis. Metastasis to the small bowel may cause obstruction, bleeding, or intussusception in which the diagnosis may be delayed because of rarity of the condition and mild and vague abdominal symptoms at early presentation. In this report, a 35 year old woman a known case of cardiac fibrosarcoma was admitted to the emergency ward with abdominal pain and distention, bloody diarrhea, and recurrent nausea and vomiting. Jejuno-jejunal invagination was diagnosed at laparotomy along with tumoral involvement of the left ovary. Histopathological study showed that there was a fibrosarcoma compatible with the earlier diagnosis of primary cardiac tumor. We have described some aspects of diagnosis and treatment of this rare cause of intestinal intussusception.