Intussusception
Medical Author: David Perlstein, MD, FAAP
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
What is intussusception?
Intussusception is the telescoping of one segment of intestine into another
adjacent distal ("downstream") segment of the intestine. (The term
"intussusception" is pronounced "in-tuh-suh-sep-tion" with the accent on the
"in." It comes from the Latin "intus", within + "suscipere", to receive = to
receive within). Common mispellings of intussusception include: intususception, intussuseption, intersusception.
Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in
children between 3 months and 6 years of age. It is extremely rare in children
under 3 months of age or in older children and adults.
What happens during intussusception?
During intussusception, a segment of bowel (intussusceptum) telescopes into a
more distal segment (intussuscipiens), and drags the associated mesentery, vessels, and
nerves with it. This results in compression of the veins, followed by swelling
of the region leading to obstruction and a subsequent decrease in
blood flow to the affected part of the intestine. Almost 90% of cases affect the
ileocolic region of the intestine (where the small intestine meets the large
intestine).
The compression of blood vessels in the involved intestine reduces the supply
of blood to the affected intestine. If the blood supply is greatly reduced, the
involved intestine may swell, causing an obstruction, or even die (become
gangrenous) and bleed. It also may rupture and lead to
abdominal infection and shock.
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