ABSTRACT
An intussusception is an invagination of one part of the intestine into another part of the intestine. It most commonly occurs in a proximal to distal direction. The most common area to be affected is the ileum intussuscepting into the cecum and ascending colon. The incidence is highest in infants between the ages of 4 and 10 months, but it can also be found in neonates and adults. The most common etiological factor in the so-called “idiopathic group” is a preceding viral illness either of the upper respiratory tract or gastroenteritis. Intussusception may also follow administration of rotavirus vaccine, though the risk remains unquantifiable. The condition is seen to occur more commonly in boys, unless there is a pathological lead point, in which cases the incidence is equal. Colicky abdominal pain with the infant characteristically “drawing up the legs” is one of the first clinical signs of intussusception. Intussusception is a reasonable indication for minimally invasive surgery.
