The effectiveness of pneumoreduction for intussusception.

Introduction: To detect the effectiveness of pneumoreduction (PR) in intussusception, which is one the most common reasons of abdominal pain in infancy and childhood.

Methods: The records of patients treated in our clinic for intussusception between January 2005 and June 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 150 patients aged between 2 months - 12 years of age; 48% (72) were girls, 52% (78) were boys.

Results: The most common complaint and clinical findings were abdominal pain (94,6%), vomiting (82.6%), rectal bleeding (81.3%), and discomfort (70.9%). An abdominal mass was observed in 73.3% of patients. PR was successfully performed in 86% of patients. It was carried out once in 86% of these patients and twice in 8.1%. PR was unsuccessful in six patients and they underwent surgery. Manual reduction (31 or 67.4% of operated patients) and resection - anastomosis (15 or 32.6 % of patients) were performed by surgery. Perforation occured in two patients (1.3%) during manual reduction.

Conclusion: PR is an effective method in the treatment of intussusception with a high success ratio and a low complication ratio. It was possible to perform the procedure especially in patients who came in the early stage of the condition.