2588

ROLE OF PNEUMOSTATIC REDUCTION IN INTUSSUSCEPTION

Haider T. AL-Baaj, FICMS, Nezar A. AL-Mahfooz, CABS, FICS

Iraq

Intussusception is the peristalsis of proximal bowel into distal bowel. The invagination of bowel upon itself results in swelling, vascular compromise, and obstruction. Barium or air enema is both diagnostic and theraputic. If hydrostatic reduction is unsuccessful, operation is indicated. A prospective study of fifteen patients with intussusception (the males, five females), presented with different age groups (3 months-3 years). Abdominal pain, bile stained vomiting, and red current jelly stool were the main presentations. Pneumostatic reduction wasdone after classifying patients according to the time of onset of symptoms; to early and late groups. Ten out of 10 early group patients get reduced or relieved without complications. While 2/5 of late group got reduced, 1/5 recurrent after a trial of pneumostatic reduction, and the others two fail to be reduced. Later exploration of these two cases reveal no complications (perforation of the bowel) related to this procedure. We conclude that pnemostatic reduction was one of the simplest, safe, cheaper, least complicated when applied to early presented cases and air can be used as a follow up post reduction pneumogram. This procedure is of value to avoid surgery in highly risk patients. Even in late presented cases this procedure has no significant complications.