Postoperative intussusception in the adult: a previously unrecognized entity?

The records of all adults with intussusception seen at the Mayo Clinic from 1955 to 1978 were reviewed. Of the 73 patients, 25 had intussusception either during the immediate postoperative period (20 patients) or after recent abdominal surgery (five patients). Clinical features in the adult closely resembled the well-recognized entity of postoperative intussusception in children. Etiologic factors likely represented the formation of intra-abdominal adhesions, presence of suture lines, use of long intestinal tubes, or abnormalities in motor activity during the postoperative period. Surgical treatment usually required reduction of the intussusception and lysis of all accompanying adhesions. Resection was required only when reduction was impossible, intestinal viability was questioned, or the intussusception stemmed from an oversewn blind intestinal stump. No patient had a recurrence. Postoperative intussusception represents an entity different from the usual intussusception presenting de novo in the adult.