Intussusception: As the Cause of Mechanical Bowel Obstruction in Adults / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intussusception in adults is rarely seen and causes misdiagnosis due to its appearance with various clinical findings. The cause of intussusception in adults is frequently organic lesions. In this study, the underlying etiologic factors, diagnostic methods and alternative methods of treatment are discussed in the light of the literature. METHODS: In this study, a retrospective evaluation was performed on 47 cases with the diagnoses of intussusception, who were operated on for bowel obstruction between 1990-2011 in Department of Surgery of Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty. Data related to presentation, diagnosis, treatment and pathology were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the patients (51%) were female, and 23 were male (49%). Mean age (year) was 49 (range: 23-78) in female group, and 50 (range: 17-72) in male group. All patients presented mechanical bowel obstruction findings and underwent operation. Intussusception was caused by benign and malignant tumors in 38 patients, and other reasons in 3 cases. No reason could be determined in the other 6 cases. Only small intestine resection was applied in 29 cases, and large intestine resection was also applied in 17 cases. Reduction and fixation surgery was performed in one patient. No postoperative mortality was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Adult intussusception remains a rare cause of abdominal pain. Diagnosis of intussusception in adults is still difficult. Main treatment was surgical in most cases.

Internal herniation as a major cause of intestinal obstruction

To evaluate internal herniation as a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. Files of 18 cases, operated due to internal herniation between 2000 and 2006 at Selcuk University, Meram School of Medicine, General Surgery Department, were reviewed retrospectively. Sixteen patients [88.8%] were male [mean age: 58.2 years; range: 42-67] and 2 were female [mean age: 56.5 years; range: 52-61].Cases were grouped according to the location of internal herniation, and the clinical findings and applied treatment strategies were evaluated. All patients were taken into surgical operation after preoperative preparations were completed. Findings were as follows: 6 cases of paraduodenal internal herniation, 4 of internal herniation through a defect in the terminal mesoileum, 2 of herniation through a defect in the falciform ligament, 2 of herniation through a defect in the omentum majus, 1 of herniation to the recessus over the bladder, 2 of herniation through a defect in the transverse mesocolon and 1 iatrogenically caused internal herniation through a defect in the mesojejunum. In an adult patient with findings of intestinal obstruction, diagnosis is difficult. Most cases presented to date are incidental findings during laparotomy, and surgical treatment is necessary