Ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction for the treatment of idiopathic intestinal invagination

The more extended conservative treatment in intussusception consists of the accomplishment of fluoroscopy guided neumoenema. The development of the echography has allowed to introduce this as alternative in diagnosis and treatment of intussusception. Our objective is to analyze the therapeutic value of echography during resolution of intussusception with saline solution enema in pediatric patients. Intestinal intussusception was diagnosed in 183 patients by echography during a period of 7 years. Patients are classified in three groups according to treatment by means of opaque enema, radioscopy guided neumoenema or echography guided hydrostatic reduction enema. The results of the three series are analyzed: rate of failure of the procedure, the recurrences or the presence of complications. We exclude n = 18 patients that were operated on directly after the diagnosis. The reduction rate was 81.25% (9/16) with opaque enema; 94.6% (103/110) with neumoenema and 96.4% (27/28) with echography guided saline enema. Complications appeared in n = 2 cases of intestinal perforation, 1 with barium and 1 with air 2. Recurrences were n = 3, n = 2 with neumoenema and n = 1 with echography guided enema. Echography guide saline enema has a high security and effectiveness (96.4%), similar to the other methods, avoiding the exposition to ionic radiation. The technique is safe and it does not increase the rate of recurrences.