Surgically proven small bowel intussusception in children: Analysis of 36 cases

Background: Intussusception is one of the most common abdominal emergencies in children. While the majority of childhood intussusceptions are ilecolic and idiopathic, small bowel intussusceptions are rare and a pathological trigger is often blamed for the etiology. Ultrasonography is the most commonly used diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of intussusception. 
Objectives: To determine auxiliary diagnostic criteria for ultrasonography in the differentiation of small bowel intussusceptions based on ultrasonography, reduction and surgical findings of surgically confirmed small bowel intussusceptions and to contribute to the diagnosis and treatment algorithm of small bowel intussusceptions based on our clinical experience. 
Methods: The records of patients who underwent surgery for small bowel intussusception at the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Surgery between January 2008 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic characteristics, ultrasonographic findings, onset and duration of symptoms, treatment method, intraoperative findings and histopathological results of the patients were recorded. 
Results: Thirty-six pediatric patients with small bowel intussusception were operated. The average age of these patients was 59 ± 49.7 months and %78 was male. The location of the small bowel intussusception detected by ultrasound scan was the paraumbilical area and left quadrant in 19 (53%) patients and the right quadrant in 15 (42%) patients. In ultrasonography, the mean diameter of the invaginated segment was 3 (1.2-6.5) cm and the mean length was 6.7 (3-15) cm. Pathological lead points were detected in the etiology of nineteen (53%) patients. Thirteen (36%) patients underwent segmental resection and anastomosis due to necrosis. 
Conclusions: Small bowel intussusceptions are often localized in the paraumbilical and left upper quadrant. However, it should be kept in mind that it may be localized in the right lower quadrant like ileocolic invaginations. Enema reduction can be used as an adjunctive diagnostic method to exclude ileocolic invaginations rather than treatment in these patients. The diameter and length of the invaginated segment may be decisive in the surgical decision of the small bowel intussusception.