Result of air enema reduction in 737 cases of intussusception.

Objective: To show the success of air enema reduction for intussusception at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, a tertiary center for children in Bangkok, Thailand.

Material And Method: Medical records of patients treated for intussusception by air enema reduction between 1992 and 2009 were reviewed for the success rate.

Results: The treatment for intussusception at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health was changed from barium enema to air enema reduction since 1992. And was the first institute in Thailand that performed air enema reduction by modified the instrument from blood pressure device. The result of success rate was 68% from the total of intussusception 737 cases with successful reduction of 498 cases. The pressure was not more than 120 mmHg. There was bowel perforation in 4 cases (0.5%) but no death occurred.

Conclusion: The success rate is not as high as other countries because of late presentation with small bowel obstruction. However, air enema reduction is a safe method and is the first method of choice before surgery. Early diagnosis and early treatment help the patient from surgery.