Sonographic Signs Of Intussusception

Emergency departments receive daily pediatric patients presenting with pain, bloody stools, and colic. These can all be symptoms of intussusception, a deadly bowel obstruction. It is very important to diagnose intussusception clinically and to perform the most beneficial procedure to cure the problem. This study examined the accuracy of ultrasound in diagnosing intussusception and looked at the sonographic signs normally presented. Researchers examined pediatric patients who presented to the emergency department to the time of dismissal from the hospital. Depending on the severity of symptoms presented, some went for an immediate ultrasound and some went for another imaging study. The results showed that ultrasound diagnosed intussusception
accurately 88% of the time and almost all of the cases showed the classic sonographic signs. With intussusception being extremely common and a medical emergency, these results prove that ultrasound is a safe and effective way to confidently diagnose young patients. This could lesson the number of other exams being performed, some which can give off unnecessary radiation, and lead to the appropriate treatment based on severity. Surgeries can also be lessoned by this technique. The authors also discussed that ultrasound can also find incidental findings of free fluid and other soft tissue organ problems that can accompany this condition. This study can pave the way for more studies to be preformed on pediatric patients to improve the standards of care.