CECAL COLIC ADULT INTUSSUSCEPTION AS A CAUSE OF INTESTINAL-OBSTRUCTION IN CENTRAL-AFRICA

During a 5-year experience in Central Africa, the most common cause of 78 adult intestinal obstructions was primary adult cecal-colic intuss usception (n = 43; 55%). The symptom complex of colicky abdominal pain and obstipation was present in 100% of the patients with intussuscept ion. Operative repair in 90% of patients consisted of simple reduction of the intussusceptum. There were no known recurrences. The etiology of adult cecal-colic intussusception is unknown. Patients typically pr esent with a 3- to 4-day history of abdominal pain, obstipation, and u sually a palpable mass. Treatment is surgical reduction. Right colecto my is reserved for intestinal gangrene. We treated 43 cases during a 5 -year period with only one death.