Intussusception
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.
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.