Background

The non-operative reduction of intussusception is the standard of care nowadays. It has been a subject of great debate for many radiologists, as they continue to modify techniques for increasing the chance of successful reduction and reduce the amount of radiation exposure [1].

Non-operative reduction methods for intussusception include contrast enema and hydrostatic or pneumatic reduction [2]. U/S hydrostatic reduction is currently the first line of treatment, given the easiness in performing the examination, less morbidity, and high success rate reaching up to 84–100% [3]. The operative reduction is required when hydrostatic reduction is either unsuccessful or contraindicated (e.g., peritonitis, perforation, profound shock).

Open surgery has been the usual approach although laparoscopic reduction is also easy and successful in uncomplicated cases [4].

Many patients who failed initial enema reduction were taken for immediate surgery due to concern of ischemia in unreduced intussusception. Delayed, repeated reduction enemas have been reported by many groups, who describe a period of waiting ranging from 30 min to 12 h before trying DRE for unsuccessful initial reduction attempt. DRE shows further increase in non-operative reduction by 50–60% [5].

Our aim in this study is to describe the sonographic and demographic features of children with intussusception with failed initial enema reduction who were managed by delayed repeated reduction attempts and to identify predictors associated with successful repeated reduction.

Methods

This study was conducted in the period from December 2018 to April 2020 at university hospitals (pediatric surgery unit), and it included 40 patients with intussusception who had failed initial enema reduction attempts under sonographic guidance. Patients in this study had failed initial enema reduction attempts under sonographic guidance and had subsequent delayed (≥ 2 h from the initial attempt) repeat enemas which made up the study population.

This study was approved by the ethical committee of the faculty of medicine. Also, publishing permission and consent were taken from the parents.

All patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, laboratory investigations, abdominal U/S, and enema reduction under sonographic guidance. Patients included in the study were as follows: children between the age of 5 months and 3 years. Also, cases with little or no bloody diarrhea and early stable cases with neither signs of perforation, shock, nor peritonitis were included. Patients excluded from the study were as follows: cases present with perforation, peritonitis, shock, or dehydration. Before reduction enema is done, initial resuscitation of the patient with IV fluids and a dose of antibiotic was given. Fluid was prepared for reduction [saline: ULTRAVIST (Iopromide)] by a ratio of (2:1) at a temperature of 37.5—the same as body temperature. Foley catheter was inserted transanally into the rectum and balloon inflated. Two hundred to 250 ml of solution was injected through a catheter with careful and steady pressure under ultrasonographic guidance. If U/S-guided reduction failed, after 15 min, plain abdominal x-ray is done to show if it is residual intussusception or not (Fig. 1). Another trial was taken after 1–2 h using 200 to 250 ml of the solution under U/S guidance if U/S shows persistent intussusception. Repeated trials can be carried out with intervening plain x- rays to prove a success as long as the patient is stable with no signs of peritonitis and perforation until the complete reduction of intussusception or flow of dye into intestine on x-ray or U/S (Fig. 2). As long as the patient is stable and there is no development of peritonitis, continue trials.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Contrast study of abdomen (contrast enema). a Partial reduction of intussusception. b Complete reduction of intussusception

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Fig. 2
figure 2

U/S pictures showing different levels of reduction using saline enema for reduction of intussusception. a, b Enema solution start to push through bowel loops. c Flow of solution through bowel loops. d Fluid pushing intussusceptum. e Fluid enter in between intussusceptum and intussuscipiens at ileocecal junction. f Complete resolution of intussusception and fluid reaching small bowel

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For a patient with failed repeated enema reduction, laparotomy is done with transverse right-sided supraumbilical incision, reduction of intussusception, and appendectomy. Lymphadenectomy may be done in cases of huge lymph nodes that make the risk of recurrence high.

Results

A total of 40 patients with intussusception who failed initial enema reduction were identified. Aged from 6 months to 3 years, 27 of 40 patients (67.5%) were males and 13 of 40 (32.5%) were females. Patients presented with most common manifestations, abdominal pain (90%), vomiting (85%), red currant jelly stool (62.5%), and mass felt in the abdomen (20%) of the patients. Patients who presented with the classic triad of pain, mass, and red currant jelly stool represent only 20% of cases (Tables 1 and 2).

Table 1 Incidence of intussusception according to sex, age, and symptoms
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Table 2 Effect of different variables on outcome
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Patients were divided according to the duration of symptoms into 3 groups: 8 of 40 (20%) of patients presented between 6 and 12 h of symptoms, 26 of 40 (65%) presented 12–24 h of symptoms, and 6 of 40 (15%) presented more than 24 h of symptoms onset. We found that patients who presented < 24 h has a higher chance for successful delayed enema than those presented > 24 h with (P value = 0.03) (Tables 2 and 3). Thirty-four of 40 (85%) have successful delayed enema, while 6 of 40 (15%) required surgical intervention. Twenty of 34 (59%) reduced from the 2nd trial, 10 of 34 (29%) reduced from the 3rd trial, and 4 of 34 (12%) reduced from the 4th trial with reduction time ranging from 30–270 min.

Table 3 Duration of symptoms before hospital admission
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Of 6 patients who required surgical intervention, 2 patients required manual reduction, 2 patients had pathological lead points, one patient who was 3 years old had appendicectomy for inflamed appendix which turned to be catarrhal appendicitis with fecolith inside, and another one who was 2 years old required lymphadenectomy for huge lymph nodes which turned to be non-specific lymphadenitis. Two patients on surgical exploration were found completely reduced. There were no deaths, no perforation, and no resection of gangrenous bowel. Two patients presented with recurrences that required no surgical interventions (Table 4).

Table 4 The outcome of delayed repeated enema
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Discussion

The age of the patients in this study ranged from 6 months to 3 years, 60% below 1 year of age, and 90% below 2 years of age. There is statistically no significant difference in age between patients who have successful repeated reduction attempts and those who failed. This finding is in agreement with Gorenstein et al. [6].

Among the 40 patients of this study, there were 25 males and 15 females; the disease is commoner in males, but there is no statistical significance that age affects the results of successful repeated reduction attempts. In our study, red currant jelly stool was not a contraindication for enema reduction; it presented in 25 patients (62.5%). Twenty-one of them had a successful delayed repeated enema and 4 failed; this is not statistically significant. This finding is in agreement with Gorenstein et al. and in disagreement with McDermott et al. who wrote that rectal bleeding is more likely to cause failed delayed repeated enema [6, 7].

In our study, patients who presented with the classic triad of symptoms (pain, red currant jelly stool, and mass) were 8 patients: 5 showed successful delayed repeated enema (DRE) and 3 failed (DRE), which represents 50% of failed cases. This is statistically significant and means that patients who presented with a combined classic triad of Symptoms are more liable to surgical intervention than those without. This finding is in agreement with Simon et al. [8].

In our study, we used U/S as the main radiological investigation to diagnose and help in the reduction of intussusception; erect x-rays on the abdomen showed little or no information to help in the diagnosis of intussusception. This finding is in agreement with Simon et al. [8]. In our study, we used saline enema with water-soluble contrast in a ratio of 2:1 respectively in performing DRE, under sonographic guidance, and without the use of general anesthesia. A plain erect abdominal x-ray was done in between reduction attempts in order to confirm the level of reduction and use of hygroscopic properties of the contrast to reduce edema at the ileocecal junction. Also, there is no enough evidence, but we found 2 failed cases completely reduced on laparotomy. Symptom duration before the diagnosis is a very important factor in the prediction of successful reduction. In our study, 8 patients who presented with symptoms since 6–12 h showed an 87.5% success rate, 26 patients who presented with symptoms since 12–24 h showed a 92.3% success rate, and patients who presented with symptoms more than 24 h showed 50% success rate. This is statistically significant and means that symptoms which started more than 24 h have a 50% failure rate; this finding is in agreement with Vujovic et al. [9]. But this proves that even patients with a longer time of symptoms have a 50% success rate as long as they are vitally stable with no signs of peritonitis. In our study, we had a recurrence of 2 cases (about 5%) subjected to delayed repeated enema with no recurrence in cases subjected to surgical intervention; also, our numbers are better, but this finding is in agreement with Simon et al. [8]. Also, in our study, there were 4 patients who have successful enema on the 4th attempt of delayed repeated enema. Also, there were 6 patients subjected to surgical intervention after 4 attempts of delayed repeated enema. Among 6 patients with surgical intervention, 2 were found completely reduced on surgical exploration. Also, 2 patients have recurrences who required no surgical intervention. This proves that there is no absolute contraindication for conservative treatment or the number of trials as long as the patient is vitally stable and shows no signs of perforation or peritonitis. This finding is in agreement with Simon et al. [8].

Although factors such as prolonged length of illness, rectal bleeding, altered mental status, and cases with classic triad (pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea) have been found to be associated with an increase rate of failed enema reduction, these factors alone are not contraindications to delayed repeat enema management.

This study was limited by the small number of cases included, and our main focus was on early non-complicated cases.

Conclusion

Intussusception is considered the leading cause of abdominal surgical emergencies in children younger than 5 years. Delayed repeated enema in the treatment of intussusception is a viable option in patients with unsuccessful initial enema reduction and in reducing the number of laparotomies and its complications. There is no specific number of trials for delayed enema as long as the patient is stable with no signs of perforation or peritonitis.