IDIOPATHIC INTUSSUSCEPTION IN AN ADULT - A RARE CASE REVIEW

Intussusception of the bowel is defined as the telescoping of a proximal segment of the gastrointestinal tract within the lumen of the adjacent segment. This condition is frequent in children and presents with the classic triad of cramping abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and a palpable tender mass. However, bowel intussusception in adults is considered a rare condition, accounting for 5 of all cases of intussusceptions and almost 1-5 of bowel obstruction. Primary( idiopathic) intussusception is common in children while Secondary intussusception caused by organic lesions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, postoperative adhesions, Meckels diverticulum, benign and malignant lesions, metastatic neoplasms or even iatrogenically, due to the presence of intestinal tubes, jejunostomy feeding tubes or after gastric surgery are common in adults. Computed tomography is the most sensitive diagnostic modality and can distinguish between intussusceptions with and without a lead point. Surgery is the definitive treatment of adult intussusceptions. Reduction of the intussuscepted bowel is considered safe for benign lesions especially for small bowel lesions. Here we present a case of adult intussusception who presented to our emergency ward with intestinal obstruction with no identifiable pathology .