Pneumatic reduction of intussusception in children.

The use of an air enema in the diagnosis and reduction of intussusception, using a simple home-made device, was prospectively studied in 36 children with the tentative diagnosis of intussusception. Plain abdominal films were inconclusive in 19 patients (53%). Using an air enema, the diagnosis of intussusception was easily reached or excluded in all suspected cases. Twenty-nine patients had intussusception. Their ages ranged from 3 to 20 months (mean: 7 months), and all had ileo-colic involvement. Pneumatic reduction was successful in 23 cases (79%), and reduction was completed within 2-3 minutes in all successfully reduced cases. At operation, three children had a tear of the sero-muscular layer of the transverse colon, but there were no perforations or recurrences of the intussusception in the immediate post-reduction or follow-up period (1-25 months). An air enema is a safe, cheap, clean and reliable procedure for the diagnosis and reduction of intussusception, and can now be considered as the treatment of choice in uncomplicated intussusception.