Air enema for infants and children with acute intussusceptions: analysis of 139 cases

Objective:To evaluate intermittent air enema in treatment of acute intussusceptions in infants and children,and to analyze the factors affecting the rate of successful reduction.Methods:The clinical data of 139 cases of acute intussusceptions managed by air enema in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.Results:The operation was successful in 127 cases and abortive in 12 cases.One hundred and thirteen cases were cured at the first manipulation,11 at the second and 7 at the third; re-intussusception occurred in 6 cases and 4 of them were successfully reducted; no patients suffered from perforation.The response rates were 96.55%,72.22% and 40.00% in the patients receiving therapy within less than 24 hours,24 to 48 hours and more than 48 hours from onset,respectively.The success rates were 97.56%,87.50% and 70.59% in patients with intussusceptions situated in the proximal of hepatic flexure of colon,from the middle of transverse colon to splenic flexure and from colon descendent to sigmoid colon,respectively.The difference was significant.Conclusions:Air enema is the main choice for treatment of intussusception in infants and children,for it is safe and effective.The rate of success depends on the time of onset to therapy and degree of intussusception.