• What is intussusception?
• What does intussusception do?
• Is intussusception an urgent problem?
• Is intussusception a problem confined to infancy?
• What causes intussusception?
• Why is rapid diagnosis of intussusception important?
• What are the symptoms of intussusception?
• How is intussusception diagnosed?
• Is it necessary to operate when there is intussusception?
• What is the prognosis (outlook) for patients with intussusception?
• Intussusception At A Glance

What is intussusception?

Intussusception is the infolding, like the closing of a telescope, of a segment of the small intestine into the adjacent but more distal ("downstream") segment of the intestine. (The term "intussusception" is pronounced "in-tu-su-ception" with the accent on the "in". It comes from the Latin "intus", within + "suscipere", to receive = to receive within).

What does intussusception do?

Intussusception causes the compression of blood vessels in the involved intestine which reduces the supply of blood to the affected intestine. If the blood supply is greatly reduced, the involved intestine may die (become gangrenous) and bleed. It also may rupture and lead to abdominal infection and shock.

The enveloping of a segment of the intestine into the adjacent segment also narrows the adjacent portion of the intestine. The lack of blood to the intestine causes it to swell, which further narrows the intestine. Inflammation develops and causes further swelling. Eventually, the swelling completely blocks the intestine.

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