Intussusception in children : hydrostatic reduction under US guidance : own experience

Background: Intussusception in children is a common abdominal emergency. Recent years have brought a new promising method of nonsurgical invagination treatment, hydrostatic reduction under sonographic (US) guidance. The major advantage of this method is lack of the ionized radiation. The aim of our study is to asses the safety and effectiveness of hydrostatic reduction under US guidance used as a first choice method of invagination treatment in our department. Material/Methods: From July 2006 to December 2007, 33 procedures of hydrostatic reduction under US guidance were performed in 27 children, aged from 7 months to 6 years and 10 months. The procedure was performed in US room by radiologist and surgeon with the use of self-constructed set for saline enema. The sedation of patient was routinely performed. Results: The initial procedure was effective in 23 patients (pts) (85%). In 5 pts the recurrence of intussusception occurred and in 3 of them next attempt of the reduction was successful. In 4 cases the initial procedures failed, and those children were operated. Total amount of 6 pts underwent an operation. We do not observe any complications connected with the procedure. Conclusions: Hydrostatic reduction of children intusussception under US-guidance is safe and effective method. Our initial results meet the recommended limits of successful reduction rates. It encouraged us to evaluation and further implementation of this method. Water enema is a first choice method of invagination treatment in our hospital.