Intussusception in children under 2 years of age in the State of Qatar : analysis of 67 cases.

Intussusception is one of the leading causes of bowel obstruction in early infancy and childhood. From 1984-1989, 67 patients under 2 years of age with intussusception were diagnosed and treated in our institution. There were 48 boys and 19 girls ranging in age from 2 months to 2 years with a mean of 7.4 months. Presenting symptoms and signs included abdominal pain (96%), vomiting (93%), rectal bleeding (60%) and a palpable mass (67%). Symptoms and signs were present for less than 24 hours in about 80% of cases. Most of the intussusceptions were of the ileocolic type (75%). The overall success rate of hydrostatic barium enema reduction was 49%. The highest rate of reduction by enema was among patients between 9 and 16 months of age (83%). The success rate of barium enema reduction was negligible after 24 hours of cardinal symptoms. Five children underwent surgical exploration without contrast studies because of delayed presentation and signs of an acute abdomen. A pathological lead point was found in only four cases, the commonest being Meckel's diverticulum. The average length of hospitalization was 2.57 days after barium enema reduction and 7.55 days after surgical reduction. There were no deaths. There was no case of perforation during enema reduction. Three children had recurrence within 3 months of initial presentation. The best outcome is associated with early diagnosis and barium enema reduction, or selected surgical intervention when indicated.