Intussusception: Medical Emergency & Nursing Intervention

Intussusception: Definition and Complications

• Intussusception is a medical emergency that occurs when one segment of the intestine slides into an adjacent section, causing a blockage and compromising blood flow to the affected area.
• It can lead to severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody stools.
• Early assessment and timely medical attention are crucial to prevent complications like bowel perforation or infection.

Incidence and Causes

• Intussusception usually appears in healthy babies without any demonstrable cause.
• There is a wide geographic variation in the incidence of intussusception among countries and cities within countries.
• In most cases, no cause can be identified for intussusception.

Diagnosis and Symptoms

• The classic triad of vomiting, abdominal pain, and passage of blood per rectum occurs in only one-third of patients.
• The care provider can usually make a diagnosis from the constellation of signs and symptoms.

Treatment and Management

• Surgery is the standard of care for intussusception.
• Drug therapy is not currently a component of the standard of care for intussusception.
• Medications are limited to those used for pain control after surgery.
• In the immediate postoperative period, weight-adjusted intravenous morphine is usually administered.
• Nursing management of a child with intussusception includes providing health education and delivering care to prevent complications.