Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic screening efficacy of sonography in suspected case of intussusception in childhood and its role in guiding hydrostatic reduction, as a non-operative treatment in intussusceptions.

Methods: The prospective study included 53 paediatric patients (up to 12 yrs) who were referred to the radiology department with clinically suspected intussusception. Cases with sonological evidence of intussusceptions (32 patients) had undergone hydrostatic reduction with ultrasound guidance. Cases with sonological or other features of peritonitis (fluid with particles) and those who are haemodynamically unstable are excluded.

Results: Out of 53 patients with suspected intussusception, 32 patients showed intussusception on ultrasound. With sonography all except one had correct diagnosis; 31 cases were found to have intussusception by means of hydrostatic reduction or surgical correlation. One case where ultrasonography failed was to be a worm mass on laparotomy. No cases found to be negative by ultrasound was later shown with follow up clinical observation to have been positive; so the accuracy of ultrasound was 98.1%

Conclusion: Ultrasonography are an accurate and safe modality for diagnosing childhood intussusceptions with thorough knowledge of the characteristic US features. Our study findings demonstrate that ultrasonography -guided hydrostatic saline reduction seems to be a feasible and effective method for the its treatment because of its radiation-sparing effect to either the patient or medical personnel, thus allowing a greater number of attempts at hydrostatic reduction and high success rate.

Keywords: Ultrasound, Hydrostatic reduction, intussusceptions.