Disorders of the Gastrointestinal System, 2nd Edition
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● Vomiting. ● Constipation. ● Bloody stools. ● Extreme pain that sometimes increases after eating.
The patient vomits stomach contents. They eventually vomit bile-stained con- tents or fecal material. An infant’s stools may have a “currant-jelly” appearance and contain blood and mucus. This is considered a late symptom, and intussus- ception should not be ruled out simply by a lack of bloody stool, as this may only oc- cur in up to about 50% of patients (Vo & Sato, 2022). The abdomen becomes ten- der and distended, and a sausage-shaped mass may be palpated, most often on the right side of the abdomen (Vo & Sato, 2022). Signs and symptoms of intussusception in adults include (Brill & Lopez, 2022): ● Intermittent colic-like cramping and tenderness. Figure 13. Target Sign in Intussusception
Ultrasonography has shown a 90% chance of detecting intussusception and was previously recommended as a first- line diagnostic tool. Ultrasounds are non- invasive and can help limit exposure to radiation in the pediatric population, fur- ther adding to their benefit as a diagnos - tic tool. CT has recently become the pre- ferred imaging study, as it is even more sensitive than ultrasound (Brill & Lopez, 2022).
Note . Heilman., J. (2012). Volvolus CT. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VolvulusCT.PNG. CC BY-SA 3.0.
Hydrostatic reduction This involves instilling a barium solu- tion or air into the rectum. Fluoroscopy is used to follow the progression of the barium. The goal is to have the barium or air backwash into the ileum, causing the
Several treatment options are used to reduce or correct intussusception. They are discussed in the following sections.
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