We analyzed the clinical features, management and outcome of small bowel intussusception in children compared with ileocolic intussusception.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 210 children with documented intussusception, in whom intussusception was initially diagnosed by ultrasonography during the four-year period of 2002 to 2005.

A total of 191 children were diagnosed with ileocolic intussusception and 19 were diagnosed with small bowel intussusception. Children with small bowel intussusception were older than children with ileocolic intussusception ( P <0.05). In comparison to patients with ileocolic intussusception the characteristic presenting symptoms-such as currant jelly stool and palpable mass-were rarely observed in patients with small bowel intussusception. In ileocolic intussusception, air reduction (92.2%), or surgical reduction (7.3%) was performed; however, in small bowel intussusception, spontaneous reduction (78.9%) was observed and no surgical reduction was required in our study.

Conservative management with close observation and follow-up sonographic evaluation rather than an immediate operation is recommended for children with small bowel intussusception.