Acute Intussusception in childhood: Aspects of epidemiologic, Clinical Features and Management at Children's Hospital, Donka, Guinea Conakry

Abstract

Background: Intussusception is a common cause of acute intestinal obstruction in children. This study reports our experience in the management of childhood intussusception at children's hospital, Donka, in Conakary.
Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study of children treated for intussusception at children's hospital, Donka, in Conakary from January 1993 to June 2003.
Results: There were 37 children in this study (M:F= 1.3: 1). Intussusception accounted for 4.60% of all abdominal emergencies in the paediatric surgery arm of the children hospital Donka in Conakry within the period. There was 56.76% male preponderance. Majority (86.48%) presented late, resulting in delayed intervention. Fifteen out of the 37 children presented after one week of onset of illness. All the patients presented with abdominal pain. Abdominal mass was palpable in 12 (32.4%) patients while four (10.8%) patients presented with prolapsed intussusception through the rectum. Majority of the intussusceptions in this study were of idiopathic origin. Seventy three percent (27) of the intussusceptions were of ileo-cæco-colic type. The average length of the intussuscepiens was estimated at 20 cm. The mortality rate was high (35.13%); the mortality was higher before the age of one year.
Conclusion: Children with intussusception presented late in our hospital, with a high mortality rate especially in infants. Ignorance and poverty may be contributory factors.


Keywords: Intussusception, children, classification, mortality

African Journal of Paediatric Surgery Vol. 3 (1) 2006: pp. 1-3