Objectives: To study the appropriate method of diagnosis
and management in adult intussusception (AI) focusing
on the clinical manifestations, diagnostic tools, and
management of this rare disease.
Methods: This retrospective study reviewed and analyzed
the demographic data, clinical features, diagnosis,
management, and pathology reports of all adult
patients (18 years of age and older) with a diagnosis of
intussusception admitted to Sohag University Hospital,
Sohag, Egypt, and Najran Armed Forces Hospital,
Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from January
2004 to August 2012.
Results: From 2004-2012, 14 patients with AI were
diagnosed and treated. Ages ranged from 22-63 years.
Ten patients (71.4%) were males. Thirteen patients
(92.9%) presented with abdominal pain. All patients
were diagnosed after a CT scan, and confirmed at
laparotomy. The lead point was found in all, except for
2 patients. Ileo-ileal and jejuno-jejunal intussusceptions
represented most of our cases (64.3%), followed by
ileocolic (28.5%), and colocolic (7.1%). The most
common causes were Peutz-Jeghers polyps (5 cases),
submucosal lipoma (2), and malignancy (2). Surgery
was the treatment option in all except one patient.
Postoperative complications occurred in 3 cases (21.4%).
One patient died 28 days postoperatively due to septic
shock and multiorgan failure.
Conclusion: Owing to its rarity, AI needs a high index
of suspicion especially in patients attending ERs with
recurrent abdominal pain. A CT scan is of prime
importance in the diagnosis, and surgical treatment is
the preferred method of management.