Presentation and Management Outcome of Children with Intussusception at Tenwek Hospital, Kenya

Background: Intussusception, a common cause of Intestinal obstruction in infants and young children, occurs when one segment of the bowel invaginates into a distal segment. While non-operative reduction has been well described, surgery remains the predominant mode of therapy in many developing countries due to delayed presentation. This study aimed to describe the presentation, management and outcome of children with intussusception at a single institution.
Method: A retrospective review of patients aged 16 years and below with intussusception managed at Tenwek hospital from January 2009 through December 2014 was undertaken. Diagnosis was based on the presenting signs, symptoms, physical findings and plain upright or supine abdominal X-rays, and confirmed via ultrasonography, barium enema or at surgery.
Results: A total of 45 cases (24 boys, 21 girls) of intussusception were noted, with a mean age of 2.6 years (range 1 month-15 years). The mean duration between symptom onset and presentation was 4.4 days (range 1-14), and the classic triad (vomiting, bloody mucoid stools and abdominal pain/distension) was noted in 27 (60%) cases. Abdominal ultrasound was diagnostic in 7 of the 11 cases ordered, with the rest diagnosed clinically. Non-operative reduction was undertaken in 4 cases and successful in 3. Surgery was performed in 42 cases with bowel gangrene and perforation noted in 20 (47.6%) and 15 (35.7%) cases respectively. The main types of intussusception were ileocolic (23, 51.1%), colocolonic (10, 22.2%) and ileoceacal (7, 15.6%). Five (11.1%) mortalities and 4 (8.8%) morbidities were noted at discharge, most commonly being surgical site infection in three cases.
Conclusion: Intussusception, in this series, was primarily diagnosed clinically and managed surgically, with a majority of the patients having gangrenous or perforated bowel at laparotomy.