Chronic Intussusception in a Child

Abstract

Summary: A 15-month old boy presented after an apparent failure of treatment received for vomiting abdominal pain and distension in other health care establishments, over a period of three weeks. He was wasted, severely dehydrated and anaemic. Although he was not constipated and the stool was not blood-stained, a diagnosis of intussusception was made from the physical examination findings of a mass on abdominal palpation and digital rectal examination. Plain abdominal radiographs were unhelpful in confirming the clinical diagnosis of intussusception. The child responded quickly to fluid and blood replacement. Laparotomy revealed an irreducible ileo-caeco-colic intussusception and an inflamed adherent retrocaecal appendix. A right hemicolectomy was done and he was discharged home well, after eight days in hospital. Abou one month after surgery, he had gained five kilograms in weight.