Manifestaciones neurológicas de la invaginación intestinal / Neurological symptoms in children with intussusception

INTRODUCCIÓN: La invaginación intestinal es una enfermedad obstructiva potencialmente grave que se produce cuando un segmento del intestino se introduce en el interior de otro segmento intestinal distal vecino. La tríada clásica de vómitos, dolor abdominal y hematoquecia aparece en menos de un 25% de los casos. Existen formas de presentación atípica, con clínica sistémica y/o neurológica predominante. La alteración brusca de la consciencia puede ser el único signo clínico en lactantes. OBJETIVOS: Conocer la frecuencia y la naturaleza de las manifestaciones neurológicas de la invaginación intestinal y describir las características específicas de este subgrupo de pacientes. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Revisión retrospectiva de las historias clínicas de 351 niños diagnosticados de invaginación intestinal entre los años 2000 y 2012. En todos los pacientes analizamos: datos epidemiológicos generales, sintomatología digestiva y neurológica, duración del cuadro clínico y eficacia del tratamiento. RESULTADOS: En 15 de los 351 pacientes totales (4,27%) se recogieron distintos síntomas y signos neurológicos, destacando la letargia (66,66%), seguida por los episodios paroxísticos, hipotonía global, debilidad aguda y fluctuación del nivel de consciencia. Un 60% de estos pacientes tenían solo clínica neurológica y un 73,3% de ellos necesitaron cirugía. CONCLUSIONES: Se debe considerar la invaginación intestinal en el diagnóstico diferencial de los lactantes y niños pequeños que acuden al Servicio de Urgencias con cuadros de letargia, hipotonía, debilidad aguda, alteración brusca del nivel de conciencia y/o episodios paroxísticos, aunque no exista ninguno de los signos clásicos de presentación de la enfermedad. Un diagnóstico precoz en estos casos puede evitar el desarrollo de complicaciones vasculares intestinales irreversibles

INTRODUCTION: Intussusception is a potentially severe obstructive disease that occurs when amore proximal portion of bowel invaginates into a more distal part of the bowel. Patients with intussusception often present with a wide range of non-specific systemic symptoms, with less than one quarter presenting with the classic triad of vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloody stools. An acute change in level of consciousness could be the only clinical symptom of this disorder. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the frequency and nature of the neurological symptoms in children with intussusception, and to describe the characteristics of the patients presenting in this atypical way. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 351 children presenting with intussusception from 2000 to 2012. General epidemiological data, abdominal and neurological signs and symptoms, duration of symptoms and effectiveness of treatment, were analysed in all patients. RESULTS: Of the 351 patients studied, 15 (4.27%) had one or more neurological symptoms recorded at presentation, with lethargy being the most frequent (66.66%), followed by hypotonia, generalized weakness, paroxysmal events, and fluctuating consciousness. Sixty per cent of these fifteen patients showed isolated neurological symptomatology, and eleven of them (73.3%) needed a laparotomy to reduce the intussusception. CONCLUSIONS: Intussusception should be considered in the differential diagnosis in infants and young children presenting as a pediatric emergency with lethargy, hypotonia, generalized weakness, paroxysmal events and/or sudden changes in consciousness, even in the absence of the classical symptoms of intussusception. An early recognition of intussusception may improve the global prognosis and avoid ischaemic intestinal sequelae

[Neurological symptoms in children with intussusception]. / Manifestaciones neurológicas de la invaginación intestinal.

INTRODUCTION: Intussusception is a potentially severe obstructive disease that occurs when a more proximal portion of bowel invaginates into a more distal part of the bowel. Patients with intussusception often present with a wide range of non-specific systemic symptoms, with less than one quarter presenting with the classic triad of vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloody stools. An acute change in level of consciousness could be the only clinical symptom of this disorder. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the frequency and nature of the neurological symptoms in children with intussusception, and to describe the characteristics of the patients presenting in this atypical way. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 351 children presenting with intussusception from 2000 to 2012. General epidemiological data, abdominal and neurological signs and symptoms, duration of symptoms and effectiveness of treatment, were analysed in all patients. RESULTS: Of the 351 patients studied, 15 (4.27%) had one or more neurological symptoms recorded at presentation, with lethargy being the most frequent (66.66%), followed by hypotonia, generalized weakness, paroxysmal events, and fluctuating consciousness. Sixty per cent of these fifteen patients showed isolated neurological symptomatology, and eleven of them (73.3%) needed a laparotomy to reduce the intussusception. CONCLUSIONS: Intussusception should be considered in the differential diagnosis in infants and young children presenting as a pediatric emergency with lethargy, hypotonia, generalized weakness, paroxysmal events and/or sudden changes in consciousness, even in the absence of the classical symptoms of intussusception. An early recognition of intussusception may improve the global prognosis and avoid ischaemic intestinal sequelae.