Intususcepción intestinal en la población pediátrica vs. población adulta: Revisión de tema

Abstract

       Intussusception is a condition that occurs when a proximal intestinal segment is inserted into an immediately adjacent distal intestinal segment. Its most frequent form in the pediatric population is idiopathic ileocolic intussusception, which is considered one of the most frequent abdominal emergencies in this population. It is generally treated by means of a non-surgical reduction, such as a pneumatic and/or hydrostatic enema. In the adult population, on the other hand, the presence of intussusception is rare and occurs more frequently in the small intestine than in the colon. In most cases in this population, intussusception is associated with a pathological pivot point that causes the presence of symptoms of intestinal obstruction. Generally, intussusception into the small intestine has a benign etiology, although when it is malignant it is more frequently associated with diffuse metastatic disease. On the contrary, malignant etiology in ileocolic and colonic intussusception is more frequently associated with a primary adenocarcinoma. In general, its diagnosis is made intraoperatively or through cross-sectional images, such as CT or MRI of the abdomen, enabling asymptomatic and/or transitory intussusceptions to be more easily diagnosed and thus allowing it to be properly observed without intervention. On the other hand, in cases where surgical intervention is justified in the adult population, an oncological intestinal resection is performed, this due to the frequent association with a pathological pivot point which causes the intussusception.