Intussusception

Part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part of the intestine

What is it?

  • Part of the intestine blocks (or telescopes) another section of the intestines.  It can occur in individuals of any age group, but it most frequently affects infants and young children.
  • Causes: infections (viral), inflammation, structural irregularities, tumors, or other underlying conditions. 

Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain that causes child to draw knees to abdomen.
  • Bile-stained fecal vomit
  • “Currant jelly” stools (stools that contain blood and mucus)
  • Abdominal distension or swelling
  • Diarrhea or Inability to pass gas or stool
  • Palpable sausage-shaped mass in RUQ.
  • In infants, persistent crying & pulling up the legs towards the chest.
May resolve by itself. Child will pass normal stool

Nursing Priorities

  • Monitor for perforation and shock (tachycadia, changes of LOC, respiratory distress).
  • Decompression with NG tube
  • Hydrostatic reduction via an enema (Air of fluid is administered via the rectum to get rid of the intussusception). Do only if no signs of perforation or shock.
  • Surgery
  • Intussusception has resolved if client passes normal stool.
Review Your Cart
0
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal