PNEUMATIC REDUCTION OF INTUSSUSCEPTION IN CHILDREN

Over the past decade, pneumatic reduction has been increasing accepted as the treatment of choice for pediatric intussusception. However the effectiveness of air compared with the more traditional barium reduct ion of intussusception continues to be a source of concern and debate, From August 1993 to November 1994, pneumatic reduction was used to tr eat 75 episodes in 73 patients with proven intussusception at Chang Gu ng Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan. Two patients underwent air reduction tw ice because of recurrence following an initial successful reduction. T he recurrence rate was 3%. Successful reduction was achieved in 65% 75 (87%) episodes. None of the patients experienced any complications fo llowing the procedure. In two of the 10 patients in whom reduction fai led. one was subsequently found to have a Meckel's diverticulum and th e other a duplication cyst as a leading point. This prospective study indicates that air enema is a safe and effective form of treatment for intussusception in infants and children. Pneumatic reduction should b e the treatment of choice in the initial management of intussusception .