%0 Journal Article
%T Evaluation of Intussusceptions in Under - Five Children in Aba Nigeria
%J -
%D 2019
%X Background: Intussusception remains a common cause of intestinal obstruction in infants and children. The operative treatment remains the main stay of treatment due to late presentation, long referral chain, paucity of knowledge about the disease condition by midwife and doctors. This study is intended to ascertain the pattern of presentation, management and outcome. Method: This is a prospective study of 48 children that was managed for intussusceptions at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital from November 2016 t0 November 2018. Structured proforma was opened for demography, clinical presentation, investigation, treatment modalities and outcome. Data was analysed using SPSS version 17 for proportions and percentages. Results: There were 24 boys and 24 girls aged 3 months to 13 months with a mean of 8months. The median duration of symptoms onset and presentation was 4 days {1 day to 14days}. Thirty-six patients {75%} presented after 48hours of onset of symptoms. A classic triad {bilious vomiting, bloody mucoid stool and abdominal mass} was present in over 40 patients {83%}. Ten patients did not pass bloody mucoid stool. Thirty patients {62.5%} had predisposing factors which included gastroenteritis and/or respiratory tract infection. 8 patients had hydrostatic saline reduction under ultrasound with success in six patients. Forty-two patients were operated {40 patients primarily and 2 patients following failed hydrostatic reduction}. Twenty-eight patients had resection and anatomises of ileocolic segment due to gangrenous bowel. Fourteen patients had manual reduction of intussuception with healthy bowel. Mortality was 8.3% {4 patients} from overwhelming sepsis and respiratory distress. Twenty patients had surgical site infection and 4 patients had incisional hernias. Conclusion: Late presentation was high in this series, however, emphasis on health education of mothers during antenatal visit that passage bloody mucoid stool by their child needs evaluation by a paediatrician will reduce late presentation morbidity and mortality in our patients
%K Intussusceptions
%K Under-Five Children
%K Evaluation
%U http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/journal/paperinfo?journalid=380&doi=10.11648/j.ajp.20190501.14